In: Chemistry
Question about SN1 and SN2 reactions. In my lab we prepared 1-bromobutane from 1-butanol (SN2) and 2-chloro-2-methylbutane from 2-methyl-2-butanol (SN1). I don't undetstand the following questions:
1. Why did we heat the SN2 reaction but not the SN1 reaction?
2. What was the purpose of performing a simple distillation on both reactions? What were you isolating your products from?
3. What was the purpose of washing both of oyur reaction mixtures with brine (saturated sodium chloride)?