L1 /
6
CH1012
MECHANISMS
• Two limiting mechanisms have been identified
for nucleophilic substitution.
• SN2 and SN1 are the abbreviations for these
mechanisms which are general reactions for both organic & inorganic chemistry.
mechanisms which are general reactions for both organic & inorganic chemistry.
Substitution
Nucleophilic
2 (bimolecular)
Substitution
Nucleophilic1 (unimolecular)
• Bimolecular refers to both nucleophile &
R-X involvement in the TS for the
Rate Determining Step (RDS).
R-X involvement in the TS for the
Rate Determining Step (RDS).
• Unimolecular refers to the involvement of only
R-X in the TS for the RDS.
