Why are there #"S"_N1# and #"S"_N2# reactions?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 7, 2017

You might as well ask, #"why are there Ford and General Motors?"#

Explanation:

#S_(N)1# and #S_(N)2# reactions differ on the basis of mechanism. For an #S_(N)1# reaction, #"bond breaking"# is the rate determining step, and the reaction is conceived to proceed thru the intermediacy of a carbocation. On the other hand, for #S_(N)2# reactions, bond making is the rate determining step, and the reaction proceeds thru a concerted mechanism in which the geometry of the substrate undergoes inversion upon bond-making. All of this will be explained much better in your organic text.

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