Fill in the squares in the following chemical equations: a. b.
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Step 1: Analyze the first reaction. The product contains an ether functional group (-OCH3). This suggests that the reaction involves a nucleophilic substitution mechanism, where the bromine atom (Br) in the alkyl bromide is replaced by a methoxy group (-OCH3). The square in the first reaction likely represents the nucleophile, CH3O− (methoxide ion).
Step 2: For the first reaction, the mechanism is likely an SN2 reaction because the alkyl bromide is a primary alkyl halide. In an SN2 reaction, the nucleophile attacks the carbon attached to the leaving group (Br) in a single step, displacing the bromine atom.
Step 3: Analyze the second reaction. The product contains a chiral center with the methoxy group (-OCH3) attached. This suggests that the reaction involves the addition of CH3O− to a compound with a leaving group, likely a secondary alkyl halide. The square in the second reaction likely represents the secondary alkyl halide.
Step 4: For the second reaction, the mechanism could be either SN2 or SN1, depending on the conditions. However, the stereochemistry of the product suggests that the reaction proceeds via an SN2 mechanism, where the nucleophile attacks the carbon attached to the leaving group in a single step, leading to inversion of configuration.
Step 5: To summarize, the square in the first reaction represents CH3O− (methoxide ion), and the square in the second reaction represents a secondary alkyl halide, such as 2-bromobutane. These reactants undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions to form the respective ether products.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
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