Answer:
The above compound is an ether. Give thestructure of the product(s) and indicate the major mechanism of the reaction (SN1, SN2, E1 or E2). Indicate stereochemistry when necessary.
The mechanism that explains this transformation begins with the protonation of the ether, which allows the subsequent SN2 attack of the iodide ion. This reaction forms ethyl iodide and ethanol, which is also converted to ethyl iodide by reaction with excess HI.
Explanation:
The SN2 reaction (also known as bimolecular nucleophilic substitution or as an attack from the front) is a type of nucleophilic substitution, where a pair of free electrons from a nucleophile attacks an electrophilic center and binds to it, expelling another group called the leaving group. Consequently, the incoming group replaces the outgoing group in one stage. Since the two reactant species are involved in this slow limiting stage of the chemical reaction, this leads to the name bimolecular nucleophilic substitution, or SN2. Among inorganic chemicals, the SN2 reaction is often known as the exchange mechanism.
