Question:
Walden inversion includes:
Walden inversion includes:
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In SN2 reactions, the backside attack by the nucleophile causes Walden inversion — key for chirality-based GPAT questions!
Updated On: May 27, 2025
- SN1
- SN2
- Both SN1 and SN2
- Elimination
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
- Walden inversion refers to the inversion of configuration (chirality) that occurs during a nucleophilic substitution reaction.
- This phenomenon is characteristic of SN2 bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions, where the nucleophile attacks the carbon from the side opposite to the leaving group.
- As a result, the spatial arrangement of atoms around the chiral center gets inverted — this is what we call a Walden inversion.
- SN1 reactions proceed through a planar carbocation intermediate and often lead to racemization rather than inversion.
- Elimination reactions (E1 or E2) do not involve inversion of configuration, as they lead to the formation of alkenes.
- Therefore, only SN2 reactions exhibit Walden inversion.
- This phenomenon is characteristic of SN2 bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions, where the nucleophile attacks the carbon from the side opposite to the leaving group.
- As a result, the spatial arrangement of atoms around the chiral center gets inverted — this is what we call a Walden inversion.
- SN1 reactions proceed through a planar carbocation intermediate and often lead to racemization rather than inversion.
- Elimination reactions (E1 or E2) do not involve inversion of configuration, as they lead to the formation of alkenes.
- Therefore, only SN2 reactions exhibit Walden inversion.
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