organic chemistry.wmv

Extra credit assignment

Once upon a time, there was a molecule of 2-bromobutane. The carbons in this group were reasonably happy, but they decided to get rid of smelly old bromine. They decided what would really go nicely on carbon number two would be a lovely new nucleophile, so they placed an ad on the internet: Nucleophile wanted, must be delicious with marshmallow.

Their add was soon answered and the carbons waited anxiously for their nucleophile to arrive.
BUT no, hydroxide showed up! This is not a good nucleophile, this is a strong base!

"oh no!"

The carbon atoms were very distraught, they knew the hydroxide had not come to join with them, it had come only to steal a hydrogen, for hydroxide ions love hydrogens almost as much as googly eyed rats love chocolate.

But who's hydrogen would he take? Would he take one from carbon number one, or from carbon number three?? Carbon number one had three hydrogens, surely it could spare one.. But wouldn't it be more fun to steal from the carbon who has only two?

"Hmmm which one shall I take.."

The hydroxide ion asked his good friend Zaitsev, who agreed with the latter notion.

"Steal from the poor!"

And so it was done.

"Mmm delicious hydrogen"
"I lost my hydrogen! Hold me.."

And so, the bromine was shed, and hydroxide became water. A happy ending really, but the carbons felt violated and they had not obtained their new life partner that their internet ad had asked for, so they devised a plan..

"Well, the evil hydroxide is water now, and we have become an alkene.."

So the carbons went on the internet again, told their story, and plucked at the heartstrings of readers round the world..and shortly, a kind hearted acid catalyst arrived, and gave carbon number three a new hydrogen.

"Hooray!"

Now carbon number two was powerfully positive, and the unsuspecting water molecule could not resist the pull! It gave up its ill gotten hydrogen to bind to the carbon, and the carbons rejoiced at the entrapment of their new associate.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• organic
• chemistry

[wsucouggirl]

Amazing!

[klynch0220]

Omg so awesome. I hope you got ten!