Question

Are alkyl halides sterically hindered?

Answer 1

Sometimes.

Explanation:

This depends on the specific alkyl halide. For example, take tert-butylbromide and bromopentane.

tert-butylbromide:

We see that this alkyl halide is tertiary `(3^o)`, making it very sterically hindered. This makes a backside attack, as seen in the `S_N2` mechanism, virtually impossible. Inversely, the `S_N1` mechanism, for example, would favor this alkyl halide well under the appropriate reaction conditions.

Bromopentane:

This is a primary `(1^o)` alkyl halide, which has minimal sterical hinderance. This makes a backside attack very possible, and an `S_N2` mechanism would be favored.

Backside attack:

For an `SN_2` mechanism to occur, a backside attack must be able to take place. We can see below that this would much more difficult on the tert-butylbromide than the bromopentane. I've used a strong base, `NaOCH_3` (sodium methoxide) for the `S_N2` mechanism. I've shown the mechanism for bromopentane first.

Note this stereochemistry could be flipped. I simply chose one possible orientation for the example.

Note the inversion of stereochemistry, a product of the backside attack. Of course, `Na^+` is present in solution. It is a counter ion and has not been shown.

For tert-butylbromide, the backside attack isn't plausible, as there are too many other substrates bonded to the same carbon as the halide. It is literally too crowded for this mechanism to take place.

Note that I only considered `S_N1` and `S_N2` mechanisms in my examples. The same rules for elimination mechanisms still apply, and they are in competition with the corresponding substitution mechanisms.

Note:

It is possible to have a primary alkyl halide which is too sterically hindered for an `S_N2` mechanism to occur. Neopentyl bromide is an example:

The sterical hinderance of the adjacent carbon is enough to render an `S_N2` mechanism highly improbable.