Chapter 10.9, Problem 23P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reasons for why the SN1/E1 reactions of tertiary alkyl halides favor the substitution product have to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

Elimination Reaction: It is just reverse reaction of addition where substituent from the given molecule is removed via E1 (the reaction depends only on the substrate involved in the reaction) or E2 (the reaction depends on both of the substituents in the reaction) mechanism.

Elimination reaction of an alkyl halide results in the formation of an alkene.

S_N1 Reaction: it is a nucleophilic substitution reaction in which the rate determining step depends on one reactant. First step is the formation of more stable carbocation which is followed by the attack of nucleophile. Formation of more stable carbocation and the leaving group present in the substrate plays very important role in the reactivity of ${\text{S}}_{\text{N}}\text{1}$ reaction.

Carbocation: it is carbon ion that bears a positive charge on it. The increasing stability order of carbocation is as follows,

Primary carbocation < secondary carbocation < tertiary carbocation

Nucleophile: donates pair of electrons to positively charged substrate resulting in the formation of chemical bond.