Mechanism Mystery!

With any reaction you can go through the following steps to help you solve the mechanism mystery of which mechanism is occuring in your reaction: SN1, SN2, E1 or E2! <img src="http://jessportfolio.trubox.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2281/2023/11/mediamodifier-yx17UuZw1Ck-unsplash-scaled.jpeg" class="right" width="75%" height="75%"> Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@mediamodifier?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Mediamodifier</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/black-magnifying-glass-on-white-paper-yx17UuZw1Ck?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a> Let's get started! Firstly, identify your leaving group (weak bases act as good leaving groups). What type of carbon is your leaving group attached to? a [[primary carbon]] a [[secondary carbon]] or a [[tertiary carbon]] <audio src="http://jessportfolio.trubox.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2281/2023/11/165858__sebane1__detective.mp3" autoplay></audio>

Next you need to decide if the substrate or alkane chain your leaving group is attached to is [[unhindered]] or [[ branched]]. If you selected the incorrect type of carbon for your leaving group you can go back to the [[Start]]

Next you need to decide what type of nucleophile you have. Do you have a [[poor nucleophile|poor2]], a [[weakly basic nucleophile |weak2]] or a [[strongly basic nucleophile |strong2]] If you selected the incorrect type of carbon for your leaving group you can go back to the [[Start]]

Next you need to decide what type of nucleophile you have. Do you have a [[poor nucleophile]], a [[weakly basic nucleophile |weak]] or a [[strongly basic nucleophile |strong]] If you selected the incorrect type of carbon for your leaving group you can go back to the [[Start]]

So you have a primary unhindered substrate. The next question you need to ask yourself is what type of nucleophile to I have? Do you have a [[strong bulky base]] as a nucleophile, a [[weak base]], or a [[strong unhindered base]]? If you selected the incorrect type of substrate [[go back |primary carbon]]

So you have a primary bulky substrate. The next question you need to ask yourself is what type of nucleophile do I have? Do you have a [[strong bulky base|strong bulky base branched]] as a nucleophile, a [[weak base |weak base branched]], or a [[strong unhindered base |strong unhindered base branched]]?

Congratulations! You have an E2 mechanism! You are such a great Mechanism Detective! <img src="http://jessportfolio.trubox.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2281/2023/11/erwan-hesry-WPTHZkA-M4I-unsplash-scaled.jpeg" class="right" width="75%" height="75%"> Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@erwanhesry?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Erwan Hesry</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/fireworks-illustration-WPTHZkA-M4I?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a> <audio src="http://jessportfolio.trubox.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2281/2023/11/505264__16fthumaf__fireworks-crackle.wav" autoplay></audio> If you have selected the incorrect type of nucleophile [[go back |unhindered]]

Congratulations! You have an SN2 mechanism! You are such a great Mechanism Detective! <img src="http://jessportfolio.trubox.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2281/2023/11/erwan-hesry-WPTHZkA-M4I-unsplash-scaled.jpeg" class="right" width="75%" height="75%"> Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@erwanhesry?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Erwan Hesry</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/fireworks-illustration-WPTHZkA-M4I?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a> <audio src="http://jessportfolio.trubox.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2281/2023/11/505264__16fthumaf__fireworks-crackle.wav" autoplay></audio> If you have selected the incorrect type of nucleophile [[go back |unhindered]]

Congratulations! You have an SN1/E1 mechanism! You are such a great Mechanism Detective! <img src="http://jessportfolio.trubox.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2281/2023/11/erwan-hesry-WPTHZkA-M4I-unsplash-scaled.jpeg" class="right" width="75%" height="75%"> Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@erwanhesry?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Erwan Hesry</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/fireworks-illustration-WPTHZkA-M4I?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a> <audio src="http://jessportfolio.trubox.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2281/2023/11/505264__16fthumaf__fireworks-crackle.wav" autoplay></audio> If you have selected the incorrect type of nucleophile [[go back |tertiary carbon]]