Question

What undergoes sn1 reactions?

Answer 1

Tertiary halogenoalkanes.

Explanation:

• Here, the first slow step involves only the heterolytic fission of the C-X bond (where X is the halogen).

• As a result of this fission, you get a tertiary carbocation and `X^-`.

• It then follows that the nucleophile (like `OH^-` or `CN^-`), attacks the carbocation quickly.

This produces the products.

An example involves the reaction of 2-bromo methylpropane with NaOH in water. You get as a result methyl proapan-2-ol and NaBr.

In `S_N1` reactions, the rate of the reaction will only depend on the concentration of the halogenoalkane.