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Question
Given reasons: SN1 reactions are accompanied by racemization in optically active alkyl halides.
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Solution
In SN1 reaction, formation of carbocation as an intermediate takes place. This carbocation has sp2-hybridised and planar structure. This planar carbocation is attacked by nucleophile from both the sides equally to form d and l isomers in equal proportion. Such products are called racemic mixture. Hence, SN1 reactions are accompanied by racemisation in optically active alkyl halides.
RELATED QUESTIONS
In the following pair of halogen compounds, which compound undergoes a faster SN1 reaction?

Write the isomers of the compound having the formula C4H9Br.
Write the structure of the major organic product in the following reaction:
\[\ce{CH3CH2CH2OH + SOCl2 ->}\]
In the SN1 reaction, racemization takes place. It is due to:
Which of the following compounds is optically active?
Which of the following undergoes nucleophilic substitution exclusively by SN1 mechanism?
A primary alkyl halide would prefer to undergo ______.
Match the reactions given in Column I with the types of reactions given in Column II.
| Column I | Column II | |
| (i) | ![]() |
(a) Nucleophilic aromatic substitution |
| (ii) | \[\begin{array}{cc} \ce{CH3 - CH = CH2 + HBr -> CH3 - CH - CH3}\\ \phantom{............................}|\phantom{}\\ \phantom{.............................}\ce{Br}\phantom{} \end{array}\] |
(b) Electrophilic aromatic substitution |
| (iii) | ![]() |
(c) Saytzeff elimination |
| (iv) | ![]() |
(d) Electrophilic addition |
| (v) | \[\begin{array}{cc} \ce{CH3 CH2 CH CH3 ->[alc.KOH] CH3 CH = CH CH3}\\ \phantom{}|\phantom{..........................}\\ \phantom{}\ce{Br}\phantom{........................} \end{array}\] |
(e) Nucleophilic substitution (SN1) |
Discuss SN2 mechanism of methyl bromide using aqueous KOH.
Which alkyl halide from the following pair would you expect to react more rapidly by an SN2 mechanism? Explain your answer.
\[\begin{array}{cc}\ce{CH3CH2CHCH3}\\\phantom{...}|\\\phantom{....}\ce{Br}\end{array}\] or \[\begin{array}{cc}\phantom{.....}\ce{CH3}\\\phantom{..}|\\\ce{H3C - C - Br}\\\phantom{..}|\\\phantom{....}\ce{CH3}\end{array}\]



