What is the main mechanism of the reaction between an alkyl halide and a nucleophile in a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the main mechanism of the reaction between an alkyl halide and a nucleophile in a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction?
Formation of a carbocation
Direct attack of the nucleophile
Formation of a cyclic intermediate
Elimination of a leaving group
In an SN2 reaction, the nucleophile directly attacks the electrophilic carbon, leading to the simultaneous displacement of the leaving group.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the main mechanism of the reaction between an alkyl halide and a nucleophile in a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction?
Solution: In an SN2 reaction, the nucleophile directly attacks the electrophilic carbon, leading to the simultaneous displacement of the leaving group.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Identify the alkyl halide, which has a carbon atom bonded to a halogen (the leaving group).
Step 2: Recognize the nucleophile, which is a species that has a lone pair of electrons and can donate them to form a bond.
Step 3: Understand that in an SN2 reaction, the nucleophile approaches the carbon atom that is bonded to the halogen.
Step 4: The nucleophile attacks the carbon atom from the opposite side of the leaving group, creating a transition state.
Step 5: As the nucleophile forms a bond with the carbon, the bond between the carbon and the halogen breaks, allowing the halogen to leave.
Step 6: The result is a new molecule where the nucleophile is now bonded to the carbon, and the halogen has been displaced.
