Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

3. Acids and Bases

Organic Chemistry Reactions

Organic Chemistry

3. Acids and Bases

Organic Chemistry Reactions

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following reactions is responsible for the inversion of stereochemistry in a nucleophilic substitution reaction?

SN2 reaction

E2 reaction

E1 reaction

SN1 reaction

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of stereochemistry inversion: In organic chemistry, stereochemistry refers to the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules. Inversion of stereochemistry means that the configuration of the molecule changes, often flipping from one enantiomer to another.

Identify the type of nucleophilic substitution reactions: There are two main types of nucleophilic substitution reactions, SN1 and SN2. SN1 involves a two-step mechanism with a carbocation intermediate, while SN2 involves a one-step mechanism where the nucleophile attacks the substrate directly.

Examine the SN2 reaction mechanism: In an SN2 reaction, the nucleophile attacks the electrophilic carbon from the opposite side of the leaving group, leading to a backside attack. This results in the inversion of configuration at the carbon center, often described as a 'Walden inversion'.

Compare SN2 with other reactions: SN1 reactions do not lead to stereochemistry inversion because they involve a planar carbocation intermediate, allowing the nucleophile to attack from either side, often resulting in a racemic mixture. E1 and E2 are elimination reactions and do not involve nucleophilic substitution.

Conclude why SN2 is responsible for inversion: The direct backside attack in SN2 reactions is the key reason for the inversion of stereochemistry, distinguishing it from SN1, E1, and E2 reactions.