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- May 7, 2004
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The reaction of 2-chloro-2-methylhexane with sodium cyanide in ethanol results in
a. the retention of absolute configuration
b. the formation of a racemic mixture
c. the elimination of HCL
d. the inversion of absolute configuration
e. the formation of optically inactive products
The answer says E but im not sure why B wouldn't be right as well. Looks like this is an SN1 reaction with cyanide as the nucleophile and since this reaction proceeds with a carbocation intermediate, the nucleophile attacks from both sides resulting in a racemix mixture and thus an optically inactive product.
Am i missing something?
a. the retention of absolute configuration
b. the formation of a racemic mixture
c. the elimination of HCL
d. the inversion of absolute configuration
e. the formation of optically inactive products
The answer says E but im not sure why B wouldn't be right as well. Looks like this is an SN1 reaction with cyanide as the nucleophile and since this reaction proceeds with a carbocation intermediate, the nucleophile attacks from both sides resulting in a racemix mixture and thus an optically inactive product.
Am i missing something?
