Question

What mechanism pathway is most like going to occur

Sn2 only

Sn2 major and E2 minor

E2 major and Sn2 minor

E2 only

NA OCH3 CH3 CH2 CH2 CH2 Br CH2OH, 0°c A A A A A A A A A A

Answer 1

The major mechanism will be SN2 and minor being E2.

SN2 will be preferred over E2 because:

• The substrate is a primary alkyl halide, and hence due to lesser steric hinderance (for secondary or tertiary, E2 will be major).
• CH3O- is a strong and less sterically hindered nucleophile.
• E2 has greater energy of activation than SN2, since the reaction is carried at a comparitively low temperature of 0o C, the former with lower energy of activation will be preferred.