Williamson Ether Synthesis

[thais]

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I've noticed that Williamson Ether Synthesis is a Sn2 reaction. However, it involves two steps - that's where is tricks me. Isn't Sn2 always supposed to be a concerted reaction?
Thanks 🙂

 

[salim271]

I guess if you consider forming the alkoxide a step, then yeah its two steps... SN2 and SN1 arent talking about the number of steps per se, they just refer to the rate determining (slow) step. If there is only one molecule involved in the slow step then its unimolecular like in SN1, if there are two like in williamson's then its bimolecular, SN2. For example, in williamson you have the alkoxide strong base attacking the alkyl halide's halogen bearing carbon, kicking out the halogen and forming an ether.