Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Chemistry

Chapter

Organic: Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Question:

Optically active alkyl halide undergoing $S_N2$ substitution involves

Options:

retention of configuration

recemic mixture

inversion of configuration

formation of carbocation

Correct Answer:

inversion of configuration

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (3) → inversion of configuration

  • SN2 reaction is a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution.
  • The nucleophile attacks from the backside of the carbon attached to the leaving group.
  • This leads to Walden inversion, i.e., the configuration of the chiral center inverts.
  • No carbocation intermediate is formed, so racemization does not occur.

✔ Hence, the correct option is inversion of configuration.