Draw the transition state for the following S_N2 reaction.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The S_N2 reaction is a substitution reaction happening in two steps, with the formation of a carbocation intermediate. Therefore, the transition state corresponds to the highest energy point on the potential energy surface between the reactant and the intermediate. The only structure that represents such a transition state is II, which shows the breaking of the C-Br bond and the formation of the C=O bond, with the positive charge delocalized over the three oxygen atoms. Structures I and III correspond to the reactant and the intermediate, respectively, and structure IV shows an ion-pair species that is energetically less favorable than the transition state.

Draw the Transition State for the Following SN2 Reaction

Draw the Transition State for the Following S_N2 Reaction