Organic Chemistry

SOLUTION E17.2b

Methanol (CH3OH) is a weak nucleophile and base. In the top reaction, SN2 mechanism is favoured with a primary substrate. The weak base reduces the rate of the reaction for SN2. The bottom reaction could go SN2 (primary substrate) or SN1, due to the resonance stabilized primary carbocation. Due to the weak nucleophile, SN1 is probably favoured in this case. Since the strength of the nucleophile does not affect the rate of SN1, the bottom reaction likely proceeds faster than the top.

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