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Finkelstein reaction template
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Iodide displaces bromide from bromoethane in one SN2 step; NaBr is insoluble in acetone and precipitates, pulling the equilibrium over.
Mechanism step by step
NaI in dry acetone turns an alkyl chloride or bromide into the iodide (SN2)
- Backside attack (SN2) – I⁻ attacks opposite Br; C–I forms as C–Br breaks in one step
Key points
- An equilibrium: NaI dissolves in acetone but NaCl and NaBr do not, so their precipitation drives it (Le Chatelier).
- Rate = k[RX][I⁻]; best for primary halides; inversion of configuration at a stereocentre.
- Iodide is both a good nucleophile and a good leaving group.
- Alkyl iodides are hard to make by direct iodination, so this exchange is the usual route.
Drawn with 18 atoms, 4 arrows, 5 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Finkelstein reaction template free?
You can preview the Finkelstein reaction template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates.
Can I edit the Finkelstein reaction template?
Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it.
Is the chemistry checked?
Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page.
Which name reactions are included?
Over seventy, covering the reactions most often asked in school-leaving exams (A-level, IB, CBSE, JEE and NEET) and first-year university courses, including condensations, rearrangements, oxidations, reductions and aromatic substitutions.