10.16 Arrange the compounds of each set in order of reactivity towards SN2 displacement:

(i) 2-Bromo-2-methylbutane, 1-Bromopentane, 2-Bromopentane

(ii) 1-Bromo-3-methylbutane, 2-Bromo-2-methylbutane, 2-Bromo-3-methylbutane

(iii) 1-Bromobutane, 1-Bromo-2,2-dimethylpropane, 1-Bromo-2-methylbutane,
1-Bromo-3-methylbutane.

(i)

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2-Br    CH3C|BrH2CH2CHCH3     CH3CH2C||CH3BrCH3
1-Bromopentane (1°)      2-Bromopentane(2°)    2-Bromo-2-methylbutane (3°)

An SN2 reaction involves the approaching of the nucleophile to the carbon atom to which
the leaving group is attached. When the nucleophile is sterically hindered, then the
reactivity towards SN2 displacement decreases. Due to the presence of substituents,
hindrance to the approaching nucleophile increases in the following order.
1-Bromopentane < 2-bromopentane < 2-Bromo-2-methylbutane
Hence, the increasing order of reactivity towards SN
2 displacement is:
2-Bromo-2-methylbutane < 2-Bromopentane < 1-Bromopentane

(ii) CH3                             Br                           Br
  |                                |                             |
CH3CHCH2CH2Br      CH3CCH2CH3       CH3CHCHCH3
1-Bromo-3-            2-Bromo-2      2-Bromo-3
 methylbutane         -Methylbutane            -methylbutane
             (1°)                   (3°)                           (2°)                                            
                 

Since steric hindrance in alkyl halides increases in the order of 1° < 2° < 3°, the increasing
order of reactivity towards SN2 displacement is 3° < 2° < 1°.
Hence, the given set of compounds can be arranged in the increasing order of their
reactivity towards SN2 displacement as:
2-Bromo-2-methylbutane < 2-Bromo-3-methylbutane < 1-Bromo-3-methylbutane [2-
Bromo-3-methylbutane is incorrectly given in NCERT]

iii)                     CH3                                       CH3
                       |                                          |
 CH3- CH2-CH- CH2-Br            CH3-C- CH2 -Br
                                                                   |
                                                                 CH3
l-Bromo-2-methylbutane                   l-Bromo-2,2-dimethylpropane

The steric hindrance to the nucleophile in the SN2 mechanism increases with a decrease in
the distance of the substituents from the atom containing the leaving group. Further, the
steric hindrance increases with an increase in the number of substituents. Therefore, the
increasing order of steric hindrances in the given compounds is as below:
1-Bromobutane < 1-Bromo-3-methylbutane < 1-Bromo-2-methylbutane
< 1-Bromo-2, 2-dimethylpropane
Hence, the increasing order of reactivity of the given compounds towards SN2 displacement
is:
1-Bromo-2, 2-dimethylpropane < 1-Bromo-2-methylbutane < 1-Bromo-3- methylbutane
< 1-Bromobutane