Edexcel IAL Chemistry A2 15.5 Optical activity of reactants and products
Edexcel IAL Chemistry A2 15.5 Optical activity of reactants and products
Connect the stereochemical outcome to the mechanism: backside attack gives inversion, while planar carbonyls or carbocations allow attack from both sides.
How this is tested
- Link SN2 substitution to inversion and optical activity of a single product enantiomer.
- Explain racemic carbonyl-addition products through attack on either face of planar C=O.
- Infer mixed stereochemical outcomes when SN1 and SN2 pathways occur together.