Question

What conditions are required for a strong base to be involved in a SN2 reaction?

Answer 1

Conditions required for the SN2 Reaction:

• the extent of steric hindrance
• the strength of the attacking nucleophile
• the type of solvent used

The SN2 mechanism is generally favored when the substrate which it attacks has minimal steric hinderance, i.e. reactivity increases 3o<2o<1o<Me. where Me denote Methyl Carbon.Another very important factor is the type of nucleophile: strong or weak. SN2mechanisms are favored when a strong nucleophile/base is involved. SN2 mechanisms favor a polar aprotic solvent, such as DMSO. Polar aprotic solvents have strong dipole moments to enhance solubility and have no protic proton which will form hydrogen bonds with anions. Generally, SN2 mechanisms can occur in a polar protic solvent.