Question

When benzyl chloride is treated with sodium iodide in acetone, it reacts much faster than 1-chlorobutane, even though both compounds are primarily alkyl chlorides. Explain this rate difference.

Answer 1

I am not going to explain it, as that would be thinking for you. Let me ask this question: Could it be a difference in the intermediate product, like resonance, which might slow the reaction down?

Answer 2

Apni maa choda behen chod

Answer 3

to bobpursley, the question you ask in response is irrelevant. that is only in the case of SN!. the original question refers to SN2.

Answer 4

Benzyl chloride will react faster because its molecular structure has aromatic features which make the benzylic carbon attract nucleophiles. The 1-chlorobutane does not have those features, so it will react slower by comparison.