bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction
Quick Summary
A bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction, often abbreviated as SN2, involves a nucleophile (an electron-rich species) attacking a saturated carbon atom in a substrate molecule. This attack occurs simultaneously with the departure of a leaving group from the opposite side of the carbon atom. The reaction proceeds through a single, synchronized step, with a transition state that has a trigonal bipyramidal structure. This mechanism is characterized by second-order kinetics, meaning the reaction rate depends on the concentrations of both the substrate and the nucleophile. A key feature is the inversion of stereochemical configuration at the carbon center, similar to an umbrella turning inside out.12
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