Question Details

Which of the following will not give SN1.

Options

A

CH2 = CH – CH2 – Cl

B

C

CH3 – CH = CH – Cl

D

Correct Answer :

CH₃ – CH = CH – Cl

Solution :

The correct option is CH₃ – CH = CH – Cl.

To understand why this compound does not undergo the SN1 mechanism, let us analyze the reactivity of each given option towards nucleophilic substitution:

1. CH₂ = CH – CH₂ – Cl (Allyl chloride):
When the chloride ion leaves, it forms the allyl carbocation:
CH2=CHCH2+
This carbocation is highly stable because the positive charge is delocalized over the adjacent carbon-carbon double bond via resonance:
CH2=CHCH2+CH2+CH=CH2
Therefore, it readily undergoes SN1 reaction.

2. Benzyl chloride (shown in the first image, C₆H₅ – CH₂ – Cl):
Ionization of benzyl chloride yields the benzyl carbocation:
C6H5CH2+
This carbocation is exceptionally stable due to the resonance delocalization of the positive charge throughout the aromatic benzene ring. Hence, it undergoes SN1 reactions very easily.

3. tert-Butyl chloride (shown in the second image, (CH₃)₃C – Cl):
Upon loss of chloride, it forms a tertiary carbocation:
(CH3)3C+
A tertiary carbocation is stabilized by nine hyperconjugative hydrogens (from three methyl groups) and strong electron-donating inductive effects (+I). Thus, it undergoes SN1 reactions very rapidly.

4. CH₃ – CH = CH – Cl (1-chloroprop-1-ene / Vinylic halide):
In this compound, the chlorine atom is directly attached to an sp² hybridized carbon atom (vinylic carbon). The lone pairs on the chlorine atom undergo resonance with the double bond:
CH3CH=CHCl¨CH3CHCH=Cl+
This resonance imparts a partial double-bond character to the C – Cl bond, making it shorter, stronger, and extremely difficult to cleave. Furthermore, if the C – Cl bond were to break, it would produce a vinylic carbocation:
CH3CH=CH+
This vinylic carbocation is highly unstable because the positive charge resides on a highly electronegative sp² hybridized carbon. Due to both the strength of the C – Cl bond and the instability of the resulting carbocation, this compound does not undergo SN1 substitution reactions.

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