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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: cabaal on November 12, 2010, 06:41:58 PM

Title: SN2 in a polar, protic solvent...why?
Post by: cabaal on November 12, 2010, 06:41:58 PM

(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/6967/47008006.png)

It tells me it should be an SN2 reaction. Why? I thought SN2 reactions had to be carried out in a polar, aprotic solvent or else the solvent would severely retard the reaction by forming a solvent shell around the nucleophile.

edit: Or am I misreading that? "In the presence of NaOH" means NaOH acts as the solvent, correct?

Title: Re: SN2 in a polar, protic solvent...why?
Post by: cabaal on November 12, 2010, 07:21:55 PM

Nevermind, I figured it out. CH3-SH reacts with NaOH to form CH3SNa⁺ and H₂O. CH3SNa⁺ is then substituted on the cycloalkane.

Title: Re: SN2 in a polar, protic solvent...why?
Post by: MissPhosgene on November 13, 2010, 12:13:31 AM

It means water is the solvent.