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Topic: Why is A) the best nucleophile?  (Read 2454 times)

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Offline Firehchicken

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Why is A) the best nucleophile?
« on: January 12, 2018, 10:54:23 PM »
I understand that a strong nucleophile is also a strong base, but I am unable to understand why A) is the strongest base among the 4.

I am guessing it has something to do with the hybridisation but I cannot see exactly why A) is stronger compared to B).

Isn't the oxygen in B) sp3 hybridised whereas A) is sp2 hybridised, and therefore B) should be the stronger base?


Offline Babcock_Hall

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Re: Why is A) the best nucleophile?
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2018, 12:21:22 PM »
Although there is often a correlation between nucleophilicity and basicity, there are other factors that come into play.  Nucleophilicity is a kinetic phenomenon; in other words a strong nuclephile is one that reacts quickly.  Does that help?

Offline Firehchicken

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Re: Why is A) the best nucleophile?
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2018, 12:14:00 AM »
Although there is often a correlation between nucleophilicity and basicity, there are other factors that come into play.  Nucleophilicity is a kinetic phenomenon; in other words a strong nuclephile is one that reacts quickly.  Does that help?

Hmm so in other words compound B) is more stable than A)... but how?

Offline NateDogg

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Re: Why is A) the best nucleophile?
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2018, 12:49:20 AM »
Ready nucleophillic attack requires sufficient electronegative character, as well as physical access to the recipient electrophile. Does this help?
« Last Edit: January 14, 2018, 01:03:57 AM by NateDogg »

Offline Firehchicken

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Re: Why is A) the best nucleophile?
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2018, 07:11:46 AM »
Ready nucleophillic attack requires sufficient electronegative character, as well as physical access to the recipient electrophile. Does this help?

So compound A) is less sterically hindered than compound B). Right.

Offline Babcock_Hall

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Re: Why is A) the best nucleophile?
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2018, 10:43:55 AM »
Although there is often a correlation between nucleophilicity and basicity, there are other factors that come into play.  Nucleophilicity is a kinetic phenomenon; in other words a strong nuclephile is one that reacts quickly.  Does that help?

Hmm so in other words compound B) is more stable than A)... but how?
I use the term "stability" when I am talking about thermodynamics.  Your subsequent answer, steric hindrance, is correct.

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