🥼organic chemistry review

SN2 reaction

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

In organic chemistry, an SN2 reaction is a type of nucleophilic substitution where a nucleophile strongly attacks an electrophilic center in one step, leading to the simultaneous displacement of a leaving group. This reaction mechanism is characterized by its bimolecular nature, involving two reacting species in the rate-determining step.

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