Neopentyl bromide reacts very slowly in SN2 reactions despite being a primary halide. What structural feature causes this steric anomaly?
Q1. Neopentyl bromide reacts very slowly in SN2 reactions despite being a primary halide. What structural feature causes this steric anomaly?
Answer: Beta-branching
Explanation: Bulky methyl groups on the beta-carbon block the nucleophile's path to the alpha-carbon; alpha-branching is tempting but defines secondary/tertiary halides.