In the SN₂ reaction, the incoming nucleophile interacts with the alkyl halide, causing simultaneous breaking of the carbon-halide bond and formation of a new bond between carbon and the attacking nucleophile. The transition state involves the inversion of configuration as the attacking nucleophile attaches to carbon and the leaving group departs.
Describe the key features of the SN₂ reaction, and what happens during the transition state in terms of bond formation and configuration?
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The SN₂(substitution nucleophilic bimolecular) reaction is characterized by a one-step concerted process involving the simultaneous bond-breaking and bond-forming steps. In the transition state, the nucleophile attacks the electrophilic carbon center, while the leaving group departs. This results in a brief period where both the nucleophile and leaving group partially share the bonding to the central carbon. The reaction proceeds with inversion of configuration, meaning the incoming nucleophile replaces the leaving group on the opposite side. SN₂ reactions are typically favored in situations with less steric hindrance, and the reaction rate depends on the concentration of both reactants, exhibiting bimolecular kinetics.