Learning ORGANIC CHEMISTRY – Simplified!
Let’s jump right in and see how to use this simplified series with an organic reaction:
To start, look at what is above and below the reaction arrow:
We notice that there is one thing above and one thing below; therefore, we only need to focus on what is above the arrow. When we look closer, we’ll notice that the first element is sodium (Na). Since this is a metal atom, whatever is attached to it is negatively charged.
Every organic reaction has a nucleophile and an electrophile; therefore, the -CN group attached to the metal will be our nucleophile.
This means our electrophile is on the left hand side of the arrow. Specifically, we want to focus on the carbon-halogen bond. There is a difference in the charges of the atoms due to the electronegativity values.
Since electrophiles are positively charged, the carbon atom is our electrophile.
Now, I will leave it up to you to finish, and name, the reaction.
Until next time, have a good one!