You are given a secondary alkyl halide and a nucleophile. If the reaction is run in Water, it follow — Reaction Mechanism Chemistry Question
Question
You are given a secondary alkyl halide and a nucleophile. If the reaction is run in Water, it follows Pathway A. If run in pure DMSO, it follows Pathway B. Identify the pathways:
Answer: B
💡 Solution & Explanation
Water is a polar protic solvent, which heavily solvates ions and stabilizes carbocations, favoring $S_N1$. DMSO is a polar aprotic solvent, leaving nucleophiles bare and highly reactive, favoring the bimolecular $S_N2$ pathway.
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