Question

Sec. butyl chloride will undergo alkaline hydrolysis in the polar solvent by

• A. $S_{N}2$
• B. $S_{N}1$
• C. $S_{N}1$ and $S_{N}2$
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is B

$S_{N}1$

In polar medium, sec. alkyl halide undergoes $S_{N}1$ mechanism.

We have a polar solvent, which will help solvate any carbocation intermediates with the overall effect that the carbocation formation has lower activation energy than it would have involved in an apolar solvent.