Organic Synthesis

The SN1 reaction - A Nucleophilic Substitution in which the Rate Determining Step involves only one reactant. -SN1 reactions are considered unimolecular, in this case with the rate determining step being the formation of a carbocation. The formation of the carbocation is slow compared to the other steps, so drives the rate of the overall reaction. Given the carbocation formation is unimolecular, the rate dynamics are that of a first order reaction. Reactions are fastest with tertiary alcohols, decreasing rate as they progress to primary alcohols, with methyl alcohol being non-reactive. SN1 reactions tend to produce some degree of