Free interactive chemistry · SIM-ORG-SN2-001
SN2 backside attack
The SN2 mechanism: the nucleophile attacks from the back as the leaving group leaves, in one step.
Open the interactive simulation →How to use this simulation
- Press “Play whole mechanism”, or step with “Next step”.
- Drag the “Reaction progress” slider to go back and forth.
- Follow the yellow curved arrows: tail = where electrons start, head = where they go.
- Read the rate law and stereochemistry in “Facts” and the energy profile.
What to notice
- One step, one transition state; rate = k[substrate][nucleophile].
- The molecule turns inside out like an umbrella (Walden inversion).
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Why is SN2 slow for tertiary halides?
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