Question
Arrange the following halides in order of increasing SN2 reactivity:
CH3Cl, CH3Br, CH3CH2Cl, (CH3)2CHCl.
Solution
C-Cl bond is stronger and more diffcult to cleave than C-Br bond. Also, as the size of the alkyl group increase, the SN2 reactivity decrease. Thus order is given by,
(CH3)2CHCl < CH3CH2Cl < CH3Cl < CH3Br.
(CH3)2CHCl < CH3CH2Cl < CH3Cl < CH3Br.