Organic Chem Flashcards
What constitutes a good leaving group?
good leaving groups can accept electrons and be stable on their own, they are also weak bases.
What are common good leaving groups?
water,esters, and halides. Structures with resonance stability
What are common poor leaving groups?
strong bases, hydroxides, alkoxides, hydride, carbanions
What is an electrophile?
Electrophiles are groups that like electrons and have the ability to accept electrons
Lewis acids are also (electrophiles, nucleophiles)
Electrophiles, cations
What is a nucleophile?
Nucleophiles like to donate electrons and are attracted to the nucleus.
Lewis bases are also (electrophiles, nucleophiles)
Nucleophiles, anions
Explain lewis acids and bases
A lewis acid is an electron acceptor (electrophile), lewis base is an electron donor(nucleophile)
Explain Bronsted-Lowry acid and bases
A Bronsted acid is a proton donor(H+), a Bronsted base is a proton acceptor (H+)
How is stability related to acid/base strength
The more stable the conjugate base the stronger the acid
Explain pKa relationship to acid/base strength
The lower on the pKa scale the stronger the acid
Explain the difference between polar protic solvents and polar aprotic solvents
Polar protic solvents have protons, Nucleophilicity increases down the periodic table. Polar aprotic solvents do not have protons and follow normal electron trends
Explain SN1 reactions
Comprised of multiple steps with a carbocation intermediate, product has racemic stereochemistry, prefer polar protic solvents. Rate = k[e-]
Explain SN2 reactions
Single concerted step, product has inverted stereochemistry, prefer polar aprotic solvents Rate = k[Nu][e-]
