Haloalkanes - Reactions (Nuc-Sub) Wednesday, February 17, 2021 SN1 vs SN2 12:05 PM • A haloalkane is an alkane with a halogen (ex. bromobutane) ○ Formula: CnH2n+1HAL SN1 SN2 Have 3 CH3 groups Has only 1 CH3 group Tertiary (stable) haloalkanes do this Primary (unstable) haloalkanes do this • Nucleophilic substitution reaction ○ Nucleophiles are atoms/materials attracted to (+) charge ▪ have (-) charge or charge (polar) ○ C in C-Halogen bond is due to difference in electronegativity ▪ Nucleophile "attacks" carbon to bond with it (swapping halogen for nucleophile) ▪ C is electrophile (has ) ○ Haloalkane + Nucleophile → Alcohol + ionic salt • Reaction coordinate diagram: Organic Page 1 2 step 1 step Carbocation intermediate Transition state