Chapter 7, Problem 49PP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The mechanism for the given racemization reaction and the energy profile diagram should be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Racemization: It is the process in which the pure enantiomers are converted into a mixture of R and S isomers.

Enantiomers: They are chiral molecules whose mirror images are not superimposable.

Chirality: It refers to a Carbon atom in a molecule that contains four different substituents.

${\text{S}}_{\text{N}}\text{1}$Reaction: It is a nucleophilic substitution reaction in which the rate determining step depends on one reactant only. 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.

Oxonium ion: it is oxygen ion that bears positive charge on it.

Leaving group: it is a fragment that leaves from the substrate with a pair of electrons via heterolytic bond cleavage.

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

Energy diagram: the energy diagram depicts the path of the chemical reaction along reaction co-ordinate in which the reactants are transformed into products.