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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: CKabes on December 17, 2018, 08:05:01 PM

Title: SN1 Transition State
Post by: CKabes on December 17, 2018, 08:05:01 PM
Why do SN1 reactions have energy barriers higher than their subsequent carbocation intermediates?

Unlike an SN2 reaction, the transition state in SN1 is about halfway between starting material and carbocation. You might expect this to have energy that's also about halfway between. Why is this less stable than the pure carbocation?
Title: Re: SN1 Transition State
Post by: Babcock_Hall on December 17, 2018, 10:09:09 PM
Of course it is true by definition that the transition state is higher in energy, but that doesn't really explore the question of why.  I wonder if the question has to do with the geometry of the transition state.
Title: Re: SN1 Transition State
Post by: nakhimov on December 19, 2018, 03:53:38 PM
It may be worth consideration of what types of molecules are most prone to SN1 reactions! 3° > 2° >> 1° cations; do you suppose something might be disrupting that stabilization effect?

Hint: consider the orbitals of the molecules undergoing the reaction.