Question

Neo pentyl chloride undergoes nucleophilic substitution rxns very slowly. Why?

Answer 1

Neopentyl chloride undergoes substitution reactions slowly because :

Steric hinderance : Bulky methyl groups make it difficult for the Nucleophile to attack from backside of carbon atom of C-Cl bond.

When C-Cl bond cleaves it gives primary carbocation which is least stable.

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

Since, Bromine is attached to a carbon, where the neighboring carbon group has large number of alkyl substituents, it experiences steric hindrance( like a shielding effect to prevent nucleophillic attack). This is the reason why this nucleophillic substitution is very slow.