Sn2 Reaction: Preparation Of n-Butyl Bromide

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| The SN2 reaction-Preparation of n-butyl bromide | | | | | Name: Aasefa Shaikh Date: Mon Sept. 26, 2011 Subject: Chem 3000- Organic Professor: Arturo Orellana TA: George Achonduh Name: Aasefa Shaikh Date: Mon Sept. 26, 2011 Subject: Chem 3000- Organic Professor: Arturo Orellana TA: George Achonduh Abstract The formation of n-butyl bromide from 1-butanol and sodium bromide was observed under SN2 conditions. It was observed that the bromine anion, a strong nucleophile, was able to attack the protonated alcohol and displace water, which serves as a better leaving group than the hydroxide ion. The primary structure of 1- butanol allowed the bromide anion to a backside attack which led to a transition state, the rate determining step, followed by an inversion of the product, n-butyl bromide. The mass of the product obtained was 6.92 grams, giving only 33.7% percent yield. Introduction Nucelophilic substitutions are chemical reactions in which an electron rich nucleophile attacks the electron poor electrophile1. There are two classes of nucelophilic reactions – SN1, and SN2. The SN1 reaction is a 2 step, uni-molecular reaction, which is independent of the nucleophile. It requires a highly substituted electrophile since there is a formation of a carbocation in its rate determining step, good polar protic solvents which stabilize the carbocation and a good leaving group1. On the other hand, a SN2 reaction is a concerted, bimolecular reaction which has one slow, transition state1. Its dependence on the nucleophile requires that the nucleophile be electron rich so that it is able to attack and displace the leaving group. In addition, the reaction requires primary electrophiles and primary nucleophiles, which allow a backside attack to occur without causing steric hindrance4. The backside attack promotes inversion of the product. Alkyl
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