Is tert-butoxide a strong nucleophile?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether tert-butoxide is classified as a strong nucleophile, which involves understanding its chemical properties and reactivity.
Answer
Fairly poor nucleophile.
Tert-butoxide is a fairly poor nucleophile due to steric hindrance, but it is a strong base.
Answer for screen readers
Tert-butoxide is a fairly poor nucleophile due to steric hindrance, but it is a strong base.
More Information
Tert-butoxide's bulky structure makes it ineffective as a nucleophile compared to smaller alkoxides, but its strong basicity is useful in elimination reactions (E2).
Tips
Common mistakes include confusing nucleophilicity with basicity; they are related but distinct properties.
Sources
- Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry - Tert-butoxide - chem.ucla.edu
- Reagent Friday: Potassium tert-butoxide [KOC(CH3)3] - masterorganicchemistry.com
- Why is tert-butoxide often used in elimination reactions when it is not necessarily... - chemistry.stackexchange.com
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