Can you draw a mechanism for this reaction?
Explanation:
- Start by noticing what's different between the starting molecule and the product (what do I need to change?).
- You'll notice that we need to form a new carbon-oxygen bond as well as get rid of a chlorine atom. A substitution reaction, specifically an SN2, is a reaction mechanism that accomplishes this!
- The issue is that we don't have a strong nucleophile right now. But, notice that there is base (sodium hydroxide) in solution that can deprotonate the hydroxyl group on our starting molecule. Once deprotonated, it is a strong nucleophile.
- This negatively charged, strong oxygen nucleophile can be used in the SN2 mechanism, in which it forms a new carbon-oxygen bond and kicks out the chlorine-leaving group in the process. This leaves us with our desired molecule!
#organicchem #organicchemistryshort #sn2reaction #epoxide
