Product in SN2 reaction (Chad quiz)

[orientalbeat]

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I am a bit confused as to why that answer choice is correct. The way I see it, I would think that if this reaction proceeded via SN2 would the product not be inverted? 😕😕

 

[lutopie0730]

Because alkyl halide is not chiral, there is no inversion
I think you got confused with nucleophile
The answer is right because inversion of configuration occurs at alkyl halide but not at nucleophile

 

[tayloreve]

I am a bit confused as to why that answer choice is correct. The way I see it, I would think that if this reaction proceeded via SN2 would the product not be inverted? 😕😕

Wow I took this quiz earlier and had the same question and blew it off. But i just had a light bulb go off and I just got it all of a sudden lol.

I thought the same thing too. But the way he wrote the reaction is backwards. The CH3I that's written over the reaction arrow is the electrophile, NOT the nucleophile. So the S- will attack the carbon in CH3I, pop off the I, and attach where the I use to be.

 

[orientalbeat]

OMG. *facepalm* thank you!!!