12. Factors affecting SN1 reaction
All carbocations are very good electrophiles and even weak
nucleophile will react quickly with them.
e.g. H2O and CH3OH
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SN1 relative reactivity
R3CX >R2CHX > RCH2X > CH3
3o 2o 1o Methyl
Relative rate >106 1 < 10-4 < 10-5
I. Nature of substrate
II. Nature of nucleophile
14. Factors affecting SN1 reaction
14
V. Order of leaving group
H
O
H
water
CH3
O
HO
acetic acid
H3C OH
methanol
H2
C
CH3
HO
ethanol
H
C
O
HO
formic acid
> > > >
V. Order of polar protic solvents
15. Summary SN1 reaction
15
Overall summary
Kinetics Follow first order kinetics
Rearrangement Undergoes carbocation rearrangement
Product 50 % Inversion
50 % Retention
Forms racemic mixture
Nucleophile Unimportant, any weak nucleophile can perform
reaction
Leaving group Important , requires best leaving group
Solvents Important , requires polar protic solvent
16. References
1. Organic Chemistry by R.T. Morrison and R. N.
Boyd, 7th edition.
2. Organic Chemistry by Pine, Stanley H.;
Hendrickson, James B.; Cram, Donald J.;
Hammond, George S., 5th edition.
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