SN2 Reaction: Reactivity and Steric Effects

An SN2 reaction of an alkyl halide happens in one step. The nucleophile forms a bond with the electrophilic carbon while the halide leaves at the same time. No intermediate forms during this process.

As the nucleophile approaches with its lone pairs, the leaving group moves away with the electron...

An S_N2 reaction follows a concerted mechanism during which a nucleophile attacks the substrate from the back-side, with simultaneous loss of the leaving group from the side opposite to it.

This occurs through a transition state, which is represented within square brackets. The structure includes an electrophilic carbon attached...