Consider the substitution reaction that takes place when (R)-3-bromo-3-methylhexane is treated with methanol. Which of the following would be true?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which statement is true regarding the substitution reaction of (R)-3-bromo-3-methylhexane when treated with methanol, particularly focusing on the behavior at the stereogenic center during the reaction.
Answer
The reaction would take place with racemization.
The reaction would take place with racemization.
Answer for screen readers
The reaction would take place with racemization.
More Information
In an SN1 reaction, the carbocation intermediate is planar, allowing the nucleophile to attack from either side and leading to a mix of both configurations, hence racemization.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume that an SN2 mechanism occurs, which would result in inversion of configuration, but this is not typical with tertiary alkyl halides.
Sources
- Consider the substitution reaction that takes place when (R) - Study.com - homework.study.com
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
