A Simple S^sub N^2 Reaction for the Undergraduate Organic Laboratory

The SN1 and SN2 reactions introduce the fundamentals of organic reactivity, which includes the concepts of nucleophilicity and electrophilicity, acidity, competing reactions, solvent effects, and synthesis. These reactions are the first introduction to reaction mechanisms and the effect of certain f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2009-07, Vol.86 (7), p.850
Main Authors: Esteb, John J, Magers, John R, McNulty, LuAnne, Morgan, Paul, Wilson, Anne M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidity
Chemical reactions
Chemical synthesis
Experiments
Organic chemistry
Reaction mechanisms
Research methodology
Science education
Solvents
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Summary:The SN1 and SN2 reactions introduce the fundamentals of organic reactivity, which includes the concepts of nucleophilicity and electrophilicity, acidity, competing reactions, solvent effects, and synthesis. These reactions are the first introduction to reaction mechanisms and the effect of certain factors on the mechanism of a reaction. Here, Esteb et al describe an easy, safe, preparative procedure demonstrating an SN2 reaction. A solid product is formed in the reaction, which enables the students to manipulate the product easily and determine whether they made a small or large amount of product. Moreover, this reinforces lecture material about the ability of a primary alkyl halide to undergo SN2 reaction despite the atypical polar protic solvent.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328