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Ch.6 - Alkyl Halides; Nucleophilic Substitution
Wade - Organic Chemistry 9th Edition
Wade9th EditionOrganic ChemistryISBN: 9780135213728Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 6, Problem 11a

Classify each reaction as a substitution, an elimination, or neither. Identify the leaving group in each reaction, and the nucleophile in substitutions.
a.

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Identify the type of reaction: The reaction involves the replacement of an iodine atom with an ethoxy group (OCH2CH3), indicating a substitution reaction.
Determine the leaving group: In the given reaction, the iodine atom (I) is the leaving group as it is replaced by the ethoxy group.
Identify the nucleophile: The nucleophile in this reaction is the ethoxide ion (OCH2CH3-) from the sodium ethoxide (Na+ -OCH2CH3).
Analyze the reaction mechanism: This is likely an SN2 reaction because it involves a primary alkyl halide and a strong nucleophile, leading to a direct displacement of the leaving group.
Consider the reaction conditions: The presence of a strong base and a primary substrate supports the SN2 mechanism, where the nucleophile attacks the carbon atom bonded to the leaving group, resulting in the substitution.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Substitution Reaction

A substitution reaction involves the replacement of an atom or a group of atoms in a molecule with another atom or group. In the given reaction, the iodide ion (I-) is replaced by the ethoxy group (OCH2CH3) from sodium ethoxide (Na+ -OCH2CH3), indicating a nucleophilic substitution reaction.
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Leaving Group

A leaving group is an atom or group that can depart with an electron pair, forming a stable species after the departure. In the reaction, the iodide ion (I-) acts as the leaving group, as it detaches from the cyclohexane ring to form sodium iodide (NaI), facilitating the substitution process.
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Nucleophile

A nucleophile is a chemical species that donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond in a reaction. In this reaction, the ethoxide ion (OCH2CH3-) from sodium ethoxide acts as the nucleophile, attacking the carbon atom bonded to the iodide ion, leading to the formation of the new ether linkage in the product.
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