Would 2-chloropropane or 1-chloro-2,2-dimethylpropane undergo substitution faster with #"HC≡C"^-"#, #"Na"^+#?

1 Answer
Dec 20, 2014

2-Chloropropane will undergo substitution faster than 1-chloro-2,2-dimethylpropane.

The acetylide anion, HC≡C⁻, is the conjugate base of the extremely weak acid, acetylene.

So it is both a powerful nucleophile and an extremely strong base — about a billion times as strong as hydroxide ion.

It undergoes #"S"_"N"2"# reactions with methyl and primary alkyl halides.

But acetylide ion is such a strong base that it undergoes mainly #"E2"# eliminations with 2° alkyl halides.

And it undergoes only #"E2"# elimination with 3° alkyl halides.

An #"S"_"N"2"# reaction goes by backside attack at the α carbon atom.

chemwiki.ucdavis.edu

1-Chloro-2,2-dimethylpropane is completely hindered to backside attack.

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The only product is the elimination product.

2-Chloropropane is less hindered.

www.chemgapedia.de

The acetylide ion can attack more readily, so its substitution reaction is faster than on the 3° halide.