Chapter 10.10, Problem 10.38P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The major and minor products that are expected to be formed in the given reaction has to be identified.

Concept Introduction:

Three steps are followed for determining the products that will be formed in a chemical reaction.  They are,

1. 1. Function of reagent has to be determined.
2. 2. The mechanism has to be determined by analyzing the substrate.
3. 3. Relevant regiochemical and stereochemical requirements has to be considered.

Function of Reagent:

When a reagent functions as a nucleophile, substitution reaction takes place and when a reagent functions as a base, elimination reaction takes place.  The first step is to determine the reagent to be strong or weak nucleophile and whether it is a strong or weak base.  Basicity and nucleophilicity do not always parallel each other.

When comparing the atoms in the same row in periodic table, the basicity and nucleophilicity parallel each other.  An example is, ${\text{NH}}_{\text{2}}{}^{\text{-}}$ is stronger nucleophile than ${\text{OH}}^{\text{-}}$.

When comparing the atoms in the same column in periodic table, the basicity and nucleophilicity do not parallel each other.  An example is, ${\text{SH}}^{\text{-}}$ will be more stable than ${\text{OH}}^{\text{-}}$ and hence, ${\text{OH}}^{-}$ will be a stronger base.

Basicity measures the charge stability on atom, while nucleophlicity measures how fast a nucleophile attacks.  Basicity is a thermodynamic argument and nucleophilicity is a kinetic argument.

Nucleophile (Only):  This category consists of reagents that act only as strong nucleophiles and not as bases.  The reagent from this category involves in substitution reaction and not elimination.

Base (Only):  This category consists of reagents that act only as bases and not as nucleophiles.  The reagent from this category involves in elimination reaction and not substitution.

Strong Nucleophile/Strong Base:  This category consists of reagents that are strong bases and also strong nucleophiles.  This includes hydroxide, alkoxide ions.  Generally these reagents are used for bimolecular process.

Weak Nucleophile/Weak Base:  This category consists of reagents that are weak bases and weak nucleophile.  This includes reagents such as water, alcohols.  Generally these reagents are used for unimolecular process.

Determining Mechanism:

The mechanism can be identified by looking into the flowchart given below after analyzing the function of reagent.

Relevant regiochemical and stereochemical requirements:

Mechanism	Regiochemical Outcome	Stereochemical Outcome
${\text{S}}_{\text{N}}\text{2}$	Attack of nucleophile takes place in the alpha position in which the leaving group is present	Nucleophile replaces the leaving group with the configuration inversion
${\text{S}}_{\text{N}}1$	Nucleophile attacks carbocation.  If rearrangement takes place, the carbocation will be different	Replacement of leaving group with racemization occurs
E2	Zaitsev product is favored over Hofmann product.	Process is stereospecific and stereoselective.
E1	Always Zaitsev product is favored over Hofmann product.	Process is stereoselective.  Trans substituted alkene is favored over cis substituted alkene.