what is the RCO2(-) for?
alkyl halide reaction
- Thread starter chiddler
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what is the RCO2(-) for?
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Yeah, no kidding. It's obviously a weak base. Wonder where it got its proton, too?
The second half of the reaction is an ordinary SN2, on a secondary electrophillic carbon. It will run slowly, but it will run.
Any chance this is a part of a larger synthesis and the weak carboxylic acid is needed later?
The second half of the reaction is an ordinary SN2, on a secondary electrophillic carbon. It will run slowly, but it will run.
Any chance this is a part of a larger synthesis and the weak carboxylic acid is needed later?
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I assume it got its proton from H2O, which deprotonates to form more OH-.
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I thought about that, but when a reaction arrow is written (1) and (2) it implies that you run reaction 1, remove its reactants (probably by washing with water or something) and then completely separately run reaction 2.
I think we need more context for this question.
There isn't much context. This is literally from a list of alkyl halide reactions that produce alcohols. The figure is titled "alkyl halides to alcohols" and this is one of the various single step reactions that is listed.
Why would it progress slowly? OH is a good nucleophile, BR is a good leaving group. Hell, since it's SN1 the rate of reaction will depend on the alkyl halide concentration only.
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It's Sn2 - single step with both molecules + inverted stereometry.
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It's not a single step reaction. It clearly has two independent steps labelled (1) and (2).
SN2 because it has a strong nucleophile. It's a frisky electrophile seeker and doesn't need to wait for a carbocation (as a golden-engraved invitation) to nail that carbon in the rear. The one product, patently an inversion of stereochemistry at the carbon, is also a clue.
It runs slowly because the secondary carbon (carbon connected to two other carbons) presents some steric hindrance, but not enough to stop the reaction entirely.
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Two step reaction with a single step mechanism for the first step? Two reactions where one of them is a single step? I thought that the 1) 2) 3) etc. over the arrow was a way to fold more than one reaction in a single formula?
I think we are talking about the same thing but my terminology is a bit muddy.
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Yeah, it's like the first reaction is quite pointless although it manages to steal a proton (from Hitler's ass probably, see 1:15), and the second reaction is the one step reaction. I think we are saying the same thing
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Yeah, it's like the first reaction is quite pointless although it manages to steal a proton (from Hitler's ass probably, see 1:15), and the second reaction is the one step reaction. I think we are saying the same thing
So timely - my ochem mid-term results are supposed to show up tonight. Looks like I already have my speech written for me.
