Question

Tertiary alkyl halides are paractically inert to substitution by S_N 2 mechanism because of

(a)  steric hindrance

(b) inductive effect

(c) instability

(d) insolubility

Answer 1

Correct Option (a)  steric hindrance

Explanation:

ln S_N2 reaction, attack of nucleophile and breaking of C-Br bond takes place in one step.

Since, tertiary carbon rs sterically hindered, thus the attack of nucleophile becomes difficult. Hence. tertiary alkyl halides undergo S_N2 reaction very rarely.