0 votes
13 views
ago in Organic Chemistry by (139k points)
What is the mechanism for the nucleophilic substitution reaction between 1-bromobutane and sodium hydroxide in ethanol? And what are the major and minor products obtained from this reaction?

1 Answer

0 votes
ago by (139k points)
The reaction between 1-bromobutane and sodium hydroxide in ethanol is a nucleophilic substitution reaction, specifically an SN2 reaction. In an SN2 reaction, the nucleophile  hydroxide ion  attacks the substrate  1-bromobutane  from the opposite side of the leaving group  bromide ion , leading to an inversion of stereochemistry at the reaction center.Here's the step-by-step mechanism for the reaction:1. Sodium hydroxide  NaOH  dissociates into sodium  Na+  and hydroxide  OH-  ions in the ethanol solvent.2. The hydroxide ion  OH-  acts as a nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic carbon atom  the one bonded to the bromine  in 1-bromobutane. This attack occurs from the opposite side of the leaving group  bromide ion, Br- .3. The carbon-oxygen bond forms while the carbon-bromine bond breaks simultaneously. The bromide ion  Br-  leaves as a leaving group, and the nucleophile  OH-  replaces it.4. The product formed is 1-butanol, and the byproduct is the bromide ion  Br- .The major product of this reaction is 1-butanol, as the SN2 mechanism leads to a direct substitution of the bromine atom with the hydroxide ion. There are no minor products in this reaction, as the SN2 mechanism is highly selective and specific for primary alkyl halides like 1-bromobutane.
Welcome to Sarvan Science Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...