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Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions

Alkyl halides undergo many reactions in which a nucleophile displaces the halogen atom bonded to the central carbon of the molecule. The displaced halogen atom becomes a halide ion.





Some typical nucleophiles are the hydroxy group (OH), the alkoxy group (RO), and the cyanide ion (C N). Reaction of these nucleophiles with an alkyl halide (R—X) gives the following reactions and products:





The halogen ion that is displaced from the carbon atom is called the leaving group, and the overall reaction is called a nucleophilic substitution reaction.

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