CHEM 2301- Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 28 pages long!)
Document Summary
Rate of sn1 reaction depends on the rate of formation of the carbocation. Product of the rate determining step via heterolysis of the cx bond. Rate of sn1 increases as the number of r groups on the c with the lg increases. Stability of a carbocation increases as the number of r groups on the positively charged. Rate of sn1 reaction increases as the stability of the carbocation increases. Provides a qualitative estimate of the energy of a transition state. Transition energy determines activation energy and therefore rate. Predicting relative energy of 2 transition states allows us to determine the relative rates of 2 reactions. Transition state of a reaction resembles the structure of the species (reactant or product) to which it is closer in energy. Endothermic reaction = transition state is closer in energy to the products. Anything that stabilizes the product stabilizes the transition state too.
