page 45 Flashcards
What does the transition state in an
SN2 reaction always include?
A: Partial bonds to the nucleophile and the leaving group.
What type of charges are present in the transition state of an
S
N
2
S
N
2 reaction?
A: Partial charges on both the nucleophile and the leaving group.
Why is the transition state in
S
N
2
S
N
2 reactions considered high energy?
A: It is unstable due to the simultaneous partial bond formation and bond breaking.
What is the geometry of the transition state in an
S
N
2
S
N
2 reaction?
A: The nucleophile and leaving group are 180° apart in a planar configuration
How does the
S
N
2
S
N
2 reaction demonstrate inversion of configuration?
A: The nucleophile attacks from the opposite side of the leaving group, causing the molecule to invert.
What happens to the bond between the carbon and leaving group during the transition state of
S
N
2
S
N
2?
A: It becomes partially broken.
In
S
N
2
S
N
2 reactions, why must the nucleophile and leaving group be 180° apart in the transition state?
A: To minimize electron repulsion and stabilize the high-energy intermediate.
What does the
S
N
2
S
N
2 transition state suggest about the reaction’s stereochemical outcome?
A: It leads to stereochemical inversion at the reaction center.
What makes the
S
N
2
S
N
2 mechanism bimolecular?
A: Both the nucleophile and substrate are involved in the rate-determining step.
