Page 137 - Pharm.Org.Chem-I 02-06-05-101

Factors affecting the SN2 reaction
2. Effect of nucleophiles

The stronger the nucleophile, the faster and more effective
the SN2 reaction will be.

CN - > I- > OR- > OH- > Br- > Cl- > ROH > H2O
Nucleophilicity increases

3. Effect of solvent

Aprotic Polar Solvents are preferred.
Aprotic = solvent contains no polar hydrogen.
e.g.
DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide
DMF: dimethyl formamide
Acetone
Acetonitrile

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