Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides
Published on: May 26, 2019
1,4,7-Trimethyloxatriquinane: S(N)2 reaction at tertiary carbon
Mark Mascal1, Nema Hafezi, Michael D Toney
1Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA. mascal@chem.ucdavis.edu
Abstract:
The synthesis of 1,4,7-trimethyloxatriquinane (1), a 3-fold tertiary alkyl oxonium salt, is described. Compound 1 is inert to solvolysis with alcohols, even at elevated temperatures, but undergoes facile substitution with the strongly nucleophilic azide anion. Since an S(N)1 pathway is excluded, the only reasonable mechanistic interpretation for the reaction between 1 and N(3)(-) is S(N)2, despite the fact that substitution is occurring at a tertiary carbon center. This finding is supported by computational modeling and a study of the reaction kinetics, and is also consistent with observed solvent and salt effects.
Related Concept Videos
SN1 Reaction: Mechanism
Firstly, the haloalkane ionizes to generate a carbocation intermediate and a halide ion. This heterolytic cleavage is highly endothermic with large activation energy. The ionization of the substrate, facilitated by a polar...
Alkenes via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: McMurry Reaction
Acid Halides to Alcohols: Grignard Reaction
Grignard reagents are a source of carbanions and function as nucleophiles. The mechanism begins with the nucleophilic attack by the carbanion at the carbonyl carbon of the acid halide to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Next, the carbonyl group is re-formed, and the halide ion departs,...
Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation reactions,...
Preparation of Alcohols via Substitution Reactions
Alcohols can be synthesized from alkyl halides via nucleophilic substitution reactions. The highly polar carbon-halogen bond in the substrate makes halide a good leaving group. The hydroxide ion or water can act as a nucleophile to take the place of halide and form an alcohol. The substitution reactions occur via two different reaction pathways, SN1 or SN2, depending on the nature of carbon attached to the halide.
Primary alcohols are synthesized from primary alkyl halides, and the...
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides

