Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 1, 2026

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding

Published on: March 24, 2018

Computational Comparison of S(N)()2 Substitution Reactions of CHX(*-)() and CH(2)()X(-)() with CH(3)()X (X = Cl, Br).

Michael L. McKee¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849.

The Journal of Organic Chemistry

|October 24, 2001

Abstract:

The S(N)2 displacement reaction of the radical anions (CHCl(*-) and CHBr(*-)) and the closed-shell anions (CH(2)Cl(-) and CH(2)Br(-)) with CH(3)Cl and CH(3)Br were studied with density functional theory. It was determined that the anions CH(2)Cl(-) and CH(2)Br(-) were more reactive than the radical anions CHCl(*-) and CHBr(*-), in agreement with experiment. The degree of charge transfer in the reactant complex is the best indicator of the reactivity trend. It was found that two reactions (CH(2)Cl(-) with CH(3)Cl and CH(3)Br) proceeded without an activation barrier at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level. The backside transition states (leading to inversion of configuration at the methyl group) were 20-30 kcal/mol lower in energy than the frontside transition states (leading to retention of configuration). Interestingly, it was found that the mechanism of backside and frontside attack by radical anions was different. In backside attack, the radical anion leads with the lone pair directed toward the methyl group to form an incipient two-center, two-electron bond. In frontside attack, the radical anion leads with the unpaired electron directed toward the methyl group to form an incipient two-center, one-electron bond.

More Related Videos

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers

Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers

Published on: August 18, 2017

Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides

Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides

Published on: May 26, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions

Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions

Historical perspective
In 1896, the German chemist Paul Walden discovered that he could interconvert pure enantiomeric (+) and (-) malic acids through a series of reactions. This conversion suggested the involvement of optical inversion during the substitution reaction. Further, in 1930, Sir Christopher Ingold described for the first time two different forms of nucleophilic substitution reactions, which are known as SN1 (nucleophilic substitution unimolecular) and SN2 (nucleophilic substitution...

SN2 Reaction: Kinetics

S_N2 Reaction: Kinetics

Kinetic Studies and Significance
In a chemical reaction, a relationship exists between the concentration of reactants and the rate at which the reaction proceeds. The study to measure this relationship is known as the kinetics of a chemical reaction. Kinetic studies are used to deduce the rate law of a chemical reaction, which provides information about the species involved during the transition state of the rate-determining step. Thus, kinetic studies help to derive the mechanism of a reaction.

SN2 Reaction: Transition State

S_N2 Reaction: Transition State

An SN2 reaction of an alkyl halide is a single-step process in which bond formation between the nucleophile and the substrate and bond breaking between the substrate and the halide occurs simultaneously through a transition state without forming an intermediate.
When the nucleophile approaches the electrophilic carbon with its lone pairs, the halide acts as a leaving group and moves away with the electron-pair bonded to the carbon. Dotted partial bonds represent the bonds being formed or broken...

Predicting Products: SN1 vs. SN2

Predicting Products: S_N1 vs. S_N2

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of alkyl halides can proceed via an SN1 or an SN2 mechanism. While in SN2 reactions, the nucleophile attacks the substrate simultaneously as the leaving group departs, in SN1 reactions, the substrate first dissociates to give the carbocation intermediate. Various factors such as the structure of the substrate, the strength of the nucleophile, and the nature of the solvent promote one mechanism over the other.
With increased substitution on the alkyl halide,...

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Chlorination and Bromination of Benzene

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Chlorination and Bromination of Benzene

Chlorination and bromination are important classes of electrophilic aromatic substitutions, where benzene reacts with chlorine or bromine in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst to give halogenated substitution products. A Lewis acid such as aluminium chloride or ferric chloride catalyzes the chlorination, and ferric bromide catalyzes the bromination reactions. During the bromination of alkenes, bromine polarizes and becomes electrophilic. However, in the bromination of benzene, the bromine...

Electrophilic 1,2- and 1,4-Addition of X2 to 1,3-Butadiene

Electrophilic 1,2- and 1,4-Addition of X₂ to 1,3-Butadiene

Electrophilic addition of halogens to alkenes proceeds via a cyclic halonium ion to form a 1,2-dihalide or a vicinal dihalide.

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Computational Study of B(4)H(10) Addition to Ethene. Baskets from Boranes.

Inorganic chemistry·2001

Experimental and Computational Study of the Intramolecular Reactivity of Free tert-Butylphenylmethylene. Modification of the Chemistry of tert-Butylmethylene by the Introduction of a Phenyl Group.

The Journal of organic chemistry·2001

See all related articles