Reaction of alkyl halides with water to form alcohols (SN1)
Description: Alkyl halides will react with water to form alcohols through an SN1 mechanism.
[private_ReactionGuide]
Notes: X is a halide such as Cl, Br, or I (never F). The R group must be able to form a stable carbocation (e.g. tertiary, benzylic or allylic).
In these reactions water is generally used as the solvent.
Examples:
Notes: Note that if the alkyl halide is on a stereocenter, a 1:1 mixture of stereoisomers will be obtained (example 3).
Mechanism: Cleavage of the C–Cl bond (Step 1, arow A) leads to the carbocation, which is attacked by water (Step 2, arrows B). Deprotonation of the oxygen (Step 3, arrows C and D) leads to the alcohol. This is an SN1 reaction.
Notes: It’s probably more reasonable to show water as the base in step C. Note that if C-2 was a stereocenter, this reaction would end up as a mixture of stereoisomers.
[/private_ReactionGuide]