SN2
Concerted nucleophilic attack
SN2 is a type of chemical reaction in organic chemistry where a nucleophile attacks a carbon atom at the same time as a leaving group departs—substitution happens in one step.
The "2" indicates two molecules are involved in the rate-determining step.
SN2 reactions work best on unhindered carbons and cause inversion of stereochemistry: The SN2 mechanism flips the configuration like an umbrella in the wind.
Exchange of one for another
- backsideButtocks or rear
- attackAggressive act against another
- inversionReversal of position
- transitionChange from one state
state · concerted · leaving · group · nucleophile · substrate · rate · kinetics
Reversal of position
- WaldenMassachusetts pond and memoir
- configurationArrangement of parts
- enantiomerMirror-image molecular variant
- chiralityMirror-image non-superimposability
retention · optical · rotation · mirror · image · backside · umbrella · flip
Halogen-element compound
- bromideOverused phrase or chemical
- iodideHalogen anion form
- chlorideNegatively charged halogen atom
- primaryChief in importance
methyl · acetone · DMF · solvent · sodium · cyanide · azide · hydroxide
Measured speed or charge
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- second-orderDerived from derivative
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- nucleophileElectron-pair donating species
substrate · reaction · order · speed · collision · frequency · activation · energy
substitution
Exchange of one for another
transition · state · concerted · leaving · group · nucleophile · substrate · rate · kinetics · stereochemistry
inversion
Reversal of position
- WaldenMassachusetts pond and memoir
- configurationArrangement of parts
- enantiomerMirror-image molecular variant
chirality · retention · optical · rotation · mirror · image · backside · umbrella · flip · asymmetric
halide
Halogen-element compound
primary · methyl · acetone · DMF · solvent · sodium · cyanide · azide · hydroxide · alkylation
rate
Measured speed or charge
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- second-orderDerived from derivative
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
nucleophile · substrate · reaction · order · speed · collision · frequency · activation · energy · coefficient
- reaction mechanismsbond breaking, bond cleavage, SN1, elimination, substitution
- Substitution ReactionsSN1, Friedel-Crafts, nitration, sulfonation, bromination
- alkylationmethylation