Transcript Substitution vs. Elimination Flowchart

Substitution vs.
Elimination
Flow Chart
(Nonacidic Conditions)
*Only good for alkyl halides where the leaving group is Cl -, Br-, or I- !!
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Begin
Is the alkyl halide 3°?
Yes
No
Is the solvent protic polar?
Yes
No
Is the nucleophile H2O,
ROH, Cl -, Br -, or I- ?
Yes
No
Is the nucleophile –OH, – OR, – NH2,
– NR , – CCR or – C CH?
2
Yes
No
SN1
Is the nucleophile
-OH, or -OR ?
Yes
No
E2
No Reaction
E1
Is the alkyl halide 2°?
Yes
No
Is the nucleophile – OR, – NH2, –
NR2, – CCR or – C CH?
Yes
No
Is the alkyl halide 1°?
Yes
No
SN2
Then the alkyl halide
is a methyl halide.
SN2
Is the nucleophile
-OCR , -NH , or -NR ?
3
2
2
Yes
No