In an reaction at a chiral carbon, the product has
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. inversion of configuration
- Step 1: In a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution () mechanism, the incoming nucleophile attacks the electrophilic carbon from the rear side directly opposite the leaving group.
- Step 2: The backside displacement occurs through a single concerted transition state without an intermediate carbocation.
- Step 3: This concerted rear-side attack results in complete inversion of stereochemical configuration at the chiral centre (Walden inversion).
Answer
inversion of configuration.
Why not the others: The alternative options (racemisation, no change in the carbon, retention of configuration) correspond to incorrect stoichiometric ratios, wrong reaction intermediates, or arithmetic evaluation errors.
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