Basics in Organic Reactions Mechanisms
In organic chemistry, the mechanism of an organic reaction is defined as a complete step-by-step explanation of how a reaction of organic compounds happens. A completely detailed mechanism would relate the first structure of the reactants with the last structure of the products and would represent changes in structure and energy all through the reaction step.
Heterolytic Bond Breaking
Heterolytic bond breaking is also known as heterolysis or heterolytic fission or ionic fission. It is defined as breaking of a covalent bond between two different atoms in which one atom gains both of the shared pair of electrons. The atom that gains both electrons is more electronegative than the other atom in covalent bond. The energy needed for heterolytic fission is called as heterolytic bond dissociation energy.
Polar Aprotic Solvent
Solvents that are chemically polar in nature and are not capable of hydrogen bonding (implying that a hydrogen atom directly linked with an electronegative atom is not found) are referred to as polar aprotic solvents. Some commonly used polar aprotic solvents are acetone, DMF, acetonitrile, DMSO, etc.
Oxygen Nucleophiles
Oxygen being an electron rich species with a lone pair electron, can act as a good nucleophile. Typically, oxygen nucleophiles can be found in these compounds- water, hydroxides and alcohols.
Carbon Nucleophiles
We are aware that carbon belongs to group IV and hence does not possess any lone pair of electrons. Implying that neutral carbon is not a nucleophile then how is carbon going to be nucleophilic? The answer to this is that when a carbon atom is attached to a metal (can be seen in the case of organometallic compounds), the metal atom develops a partial positive charge and carbon develops a partial negative charge, hence making carbon nucleophilic.
![**Exercise: Identifying Asymmetric Centers in a Molecule**
In the answer box, type the number of asymmetric centers in the following molecule.
[Image of a chemical structure]
### Diagram Description:
The molecule depicted, which is shown in the image above, includes several distinct functional groups and configurations:
- A carbon chain with varying substituents.
- A ketone group (C=O) attached to the second carbon.
- A hydroxyl group (OH) attached to the third carbon.
- A bromine (Br) substituent on the fifth carbon.
Below the chemical structure diagram is a blank answer box where you are expected to enter the number of asymmetric centers found in this molecule.
### Instructions:
Review the structure carefully and identify the number of carbon atoms that are asymmetric (those which have four different groups attached to them). Input the total count in the provided answer box.
---
**Interactive Component:**
[Blank Answer Box]
---
For additional help on finding asymmetric centers, refer to our tutorial on [Chirality & Asymmetric Centers in Organic Chemistry](#).
---
**Note:** This content is designed to help students understand how to identify asymmetric centers in organic molecules, an essential skill in stereochemistry.](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2Fb4360dbb-8ab6-4d74-b01a-5b8a344a6541%2F32f2fcf3-bbc6-41ac-844a-1c73c2371875%2Fy5d4m0y_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps with 1 images
