Self Assessment

Chapter 8: Nucleophilic Substitution

Nucleophilic Substitution Questions

Qu 1: Explain why cyclohexylamine (1) is more reactive than aniline (2) towards methyl iodide.

Qu 2: Explain the relative reactivity of the following alkyl bromides towards hydrolysis in aqueous ethanol solution:

Qu 3: Rank the following in order of decreasing nucleophilicity. Explain your choice.

Qu 4: Rank the groups (bold) in order of decreasing leaving group ability. Explain your choice.

Qu 5: In a classic organic chemistry experiment, the rate of the substitution reaction of radioactive iodide (isotope =128) on (+)-(R)-2-iodooctane was investigated, see scheme below. The chemists measured the initial rate of reaction for the incorporation of the iodine isotope and also followed the progress of the reaction polarimetrically. It was found that the initial rate of racemization was twice the initial rate of iodine incorporation. By considering, in turn, the S_N1 and S_N2 mechanisms, explain these experimental observations.

Qu 6: The base catalyzed hydrolysis of the 1,2-chlorohydrin shown below is found to yield the 1,2-diol with retention of configuration. Suggest a mechanism that is consistent with this observation.

Qu 7: As part of a project in a petrochemical company, an achiral hydrocarbon, H, C₄H₈ was radically chlorinated.

This gave a mixture of monochlorinated products, A, B, C, and D, that were then separated and characterized. It was found that both A and B existed as a pairs of enantiomers (ie. A/A', B/B') and that A and B were diastereomers. The relative yields of the products was A = B > C > D (you could check this by calculating the % yields expected). In a series of reactivity studies with AgNO₃ / H₂O / EtOH, the relative rates of reaction were C > A = B > D.
With NaI / acetone, the relative rates of reaction were D > A > B > C
Identify the monochlorinated isomers A, B, C and D and the original hydrocarbon H.
How many types of hydrogen are there in the original hydrocarbon H ?
What would the major isomer have been if the company had used a radical bromination instead of chlorination ?
Show the calculation for the predicted yield of this brominated isomer.

Qu 8: Draw a double headed curved arrow mechanism to account for the following experimental observation:

Answers ?

Qu 1:	Explain why cyclohexylamine (1) is more reactive than aniline (2) towards methyl iodide.


Qu 2:	Explain the relative reactivity of the following alkyl bromides towards hydrolysis in aqueous ethanol solution:


Qu 3:	Rank the following in order of decreasing nucleophilicity. Explain your choice.


Qu 4:	Rank the groups (bold) in order of decreasing leaving group ability. Explain your choice.


Qu 5:	In a classic organic chemistry experiment, the rate of the substitution reaction of radioactive iodide (isotope =128) on (+)-(R)-2-iodooctane was investigated, see scheme below. The chemists measured the initial rate of reaction for the incorporation of the iodine isotope and also followed the progress of the reaction polarimetrically. It was found that the initial rate of racemization was twice the initial rate of iodine incorporation. By considering, in turn, the S_N1 and S_N2 mechanisms, explain these experimental observations.


Qu 6:	The base catalyzed hydrolysis of the 1,2-chlorohydrin shown below is found to yield the 1,2-diol with retention of configuration. Suggest a mechanism that is consistent with this observation.


Qu 7:	As part of a project in a petrochemical company, an achiral hydrocarbon, H, C₄H₈ was radically chlorinated.
	This gave a mixture of monochlorinated products, A, B, C, and D, that were then separated and characterized. It was found that both A and B existed as a pairs of enantiomers (ie. A/A', B/B') and that A and B were diastereomers. The relative yields of the products was A = B > C > D (you could check this by calculating the % yields expected). In a series of reactivity studies with AgNO₃ / H₂O / EtOH, the relative rates of reaction were C > A = B > D. With NaI / acetone, the relative rates of reaction were D > A > B > C Identify the monochlorinated isomers A, B, C and D and the original hydrocarbon H. How many types of hydrogen are there in the original hydrocarbon H ? What would the major isomer have been if the company had used a radical bromination instead of chlorination ? Show the calculation for the predicted yield of this brominated isomer.
Qu 8:	Draw a double headed curved arrow mechanism to account for the following experimental observation: