Introduction to Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions
Following up on the 4 most important patters of reactions in Org 1, and introduction to acid-base reactions, here’s the second major pattern. It’s called
Read moreSubstitution Reactions
Walkthrough of Substitution Reactions (1) – Introduction
Today starts a new series of posts on walking through one of the key classes of reaction in organic chemistry: substitution reactions. The goal of
Read moreTwo Types of Substitution Reactions
Chemistry is an experimental science. There is no great Ramanujan of our discipline, who, starting with a simple set of premises, could derive and predict
Read moreThe SN2 Mechanism
Having gone through the two different types of substitution reactions, and talked about nucleophiles and electrophiles, we’re finally in a position to reveal the mechanism
Read moreWhy the SN2 Reaction Is Powerful
Having gone through the mechanism of the SN2 reaction, let’s take a second and look at why it might be useful. In nucleophilic substitution reactions,
Read moreThe SN1 Mechanism
Previously we saw that there are two important classes of nucleophilic substitution reactions, which differ in their rate laws, dependence on substitution pattern, and the
Read moreThe Conjugate Acid Is A Better Leaving Group
One of the key factors that determines whether a nucleophilic substitution reaction will happen or not is the identity of the leaving group. Previously, we’ve
Read moreComparing the SN1 and SN2 Reactions
Hey! You can now download a free 1-page Summary Sheet of SN1 vs SN2 reactions containing all the material on this series of blog posts
Read morePolar Protic? Polar Aprotic? Nonpolar? All About Solvents
A lot of students I talk to have questions about solvents, so I’ve decided to put together a reference post on them. Solvents can cause
Read moreSteric Hindrance is Like a Fat Goalie
Sportswriter Todd Gallagher asked a question that every hockey fan has probably asked at one point. “Could a morbidly obese goaltender succeed in the NHL?”
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