Which of the following SN2 reactions is the slowest?

Which of the following SN2 reactions is the slowest?

Solution:

In an Sn2 reaction, nucleophile attacks the carbon that has the leaving group from the back. Sn2 reactions prefers primary substrate (carbon that has the leaving group is attached to one other carbon only), ok with secondary and never tertiary. Looking at the answer choices, we must first identify each substrate as primary, secondary or tertiary. A. primary B. Primary C. Primary D. Primary E. Secondary. Since the last choice is secondary, Sn2 reaction will be slower for that molecule versus others which are all primary.

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