The rate of the reaction of methyl iodide with quinuclidine was measured in nitrobenzene, and then the rate of the reaction of methyl iodide with ­triethylamine was measured in the same solvent. The concentration of the reagents was the same in both experiments.
a.Which reaction had the larger rate constant?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the problem. The question is asking which reaction has the larger rate constant when methyl iodide reacts with quinuclidine versus triethylamine in nitrobenzene, under identical concentrations.
2. Step 2: Recall the concept of nucleophilicity. Quinuclidine and triethylamine are both nucleophiles, but their nucleophilicity depends on factors such as steric hindrance and electronic effects. Quinuclidine is a bicyclic amine with less steric hindrance compared to triethylamine, which has bulky ethyl groups.
3. Step 3: Consider the solvent effect. Nitrobenzene is a polar aprotic solvent, which tends to enhance the nucleophilicity of amines by not stabilizing the nucleophile through hydrogen bonding. This means the intrinsic nucleophilicity of the amines will play a significant role in determining the rate constant.
4. Step 4: Relate nucleophilicity to the rate constant. In a reaction where the nucleophile attacks the electrophile (methyl iodide), a stronger nucleophile will generally lead to a faster reaction and a larger rate constant. Since quinuclidine is less sterically hindered and has a more accessible lone pair of electrons, it is likely to be a stronger nucleophile than triethylamine.
5. Step 5: Conclude the reasoning. Based on the steric and electronic considerations, the reaction of methyl iodide with quinuclidine is expected to have the larger rate constant compared to the reaction with triethylamine.

Key Concepts

Reaction Rate and Rate Constant

The reaction rate refers to the speed at which reactants are converted into products, while the rate constant (k) is a proportionality factor in the rate law that is specific to a given reaction at a certain temperature. It reflects the intrinsic reactivity of the reactants and is influenced by factors such as the nature of the reactants and the solvent. A higher rate constant indicates a faster reaction under the same conditions.

Nucleophilicity

Nucleophilicity is a measure of how readily a nucleophile donates an electron pair to form a bond with an electrophile. In this context, quinuclidine and triethylamine are both nucleophiles reacting with methyl iodide. The strength of the nucleophile affects the reaction rate; stronger nucleophiles typically lead to faster reactions, which is crucial for determining which reaction has a larger rate constant.

Solvent Effects on Reaction Rates

The solvent can significantly influence the rate of a chemical reaction by stabilizing or destabilizing reactants, transition states, and products. Nitrobenzene, being a polar aprotic solvent, can affect the nucleophilicity of the reactants differently. Understanding how the solvent interacts with the nucleophiles and the electrophile is essential for predicting the relative rates of the reactions in question.