Many students turn to an SN1 SN2 E1 E2 flowchart, hoping to simplify the process, which only leads to more confusion. Instead, what we need to do is break down each reaction to understand the what and why behind it and then learn to evaluate the conditions for choosing one over the oth...
Deciding SN1/SN2/E1/E2 (1) – The Substrate Introduction to Rearrangement ReactionsCat Illustration by my talented cousin, political cartoonist Graeme MacKay Note 1. [Intimate ion pairs can affect this]. Note 2. [If the nucleophile is neutral, e.g. H2O, then there will be a second, l...