Organic Chemistry As a Second Language, 3e: First Semester Topics

Published by John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 10: 111801040X
ISBN 13: 978-1-11801-040-2

Chapter 9 - Substitution Reactions - 9.3 Factor 2 - The Nucleophile - Problems - Page 217: 9.17

Answer

This nucleophile will favor $S_N2$ reactions.

Work Step by Step

1. Use the table of common Nucleophiles on page 216, to compare and determine if this is a strong or a weak nucleophile. - This is a "$CN^-$" molecule, therefore, it is a strong nucleophile. ** Normally, structures with a negative charge or with high polarity are strong nucleophiles. 2. Strong nucleophiles favor $S_N2$ reactions, therefore, this compound does the same.
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