[Orgo] sn1

[ippie]

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the reaction of 2-chloro-2-methyhexane with sodium cyanide in ethanol results in
a. the formation of a racemic mixture.
b. the formation of optically inactive products.
==> I think choice a and b are the same meaning. but answer is b. why not a?

 

[userah]

uhh it should be both. racemic mixtures are formed in sn1 reactions and thus the products are optically inactive. i think it messed up. you're right.

 

[happyasaclam88]

sn1 doesn't form optically inactive products, it forms optically inactive mixtures - a racemate could have 2 optically active products, but the r and s would cancel each other out.
in this case, the products lack a chiral center, so they're optically inactive, but they're not a racemate for the same reason.