Bimolecular Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction Lab Report

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Analyzing the Products of Substitution Reactions with Alcoholic Compounds
Adam Schroeder, Jessica Vecera, Brandon Guth
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, IUPUI, 402 N. Blackford St., Indianapolis, IN 46202

Three different substitution reactions were completed using different alcoholic compounds. Substitution reactions can either be Sn1 or Sn2 depending on the reactive properties of the reactants and catalysts. The reactive properties are also dependent upon the shape and whether the substitution happens on a primary, secondary, or tertiary carbon. Reaction 1 proceeded via an Sn2 mechanism, reaction 3 proceeded via an Sn1 mechanism and reaction 2 is assumed to be Sn2 based upon the data received. The products (1), (2), …show more content…

There are Sn1 and Sn2 substitution reactions. Sn1 reactions are unimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions that are of the first order, whereas Sn2 reactions are bimolecular nucleophilic substitution of the second order.1 Molecules that contribute to a substitution reaction are called an ‘electrophile’ which contains the ‘leaving group’ which is the substituted group. It also contains a …show more content…

The tertiary product forms as a result of a hydride shift in order to form a more stable carbocation whereas the secondary (minor) product forms as a result of a direct substitution. The reaction was done via a hot water bath at approximately 55 degrees Celsius in order to overcome some of the activation energy requirements. The analysis of Infrared spectroscopy data showed that there was still a slight amount of alcohol left in the product therefore highlighting that this reaction did not go to completion. This could have been because of an excess of lucas

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