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1. What determines a good nucleophile for S N 2? a) Consider the role that elect

ID: 515293 • Letter: 1

Question

1. What determines a good nucleophile for SN2?

a) Consider the role that electron density plays in the strength of a nucleophile.

b) Consider the attacking ability purely through steric means.

c) Consider the correlation of acidity/basicity to nucleophilicity.

2. What determines a good leaving group SN2?

a) Consider the role of acid-base chemistry.

b) Consider modifications that might make a poor leaving group into a better one.

c) Consider any properties that might make something both a good leaving group as well as a good nucleophile.

4. What are the stereochemical implications for bimolecular (SN2) substitutions?List the stereochemical implications for bimolecular (SN2) substitutions?

Explanation / Answer

(1) Since SN2 reaction follows a concerted reaction. i.e it occurs in single step. During this cleavage of old bond and formation of new bond occurs simultaneously.

So, (b) Consider the attacking ability purely through steric means.

(2) (c) Consider any properties that might make something both a good leaving group as well as a good nucleophile.

(4) Since the cleavage and fromation occurs simultaneously,

the attack of new nucleophiles occurs from back side of carbon which is attached to old nucleophile.

If that carbon being attacked is chiral,

The configuration of product is opposite to the configuration of the reactant.