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SN1 substitution template
Free template. Download it, or open it in MolDraw to change it first.
tert-Butyl bromide ionises, water adds to the cation and a proton is lost to give tert-butanol.
Mechanism step by step
Ionisation to a carbocation, then capture by the solvent
- Ionisation (slow) – C–Br breaks: a carbocation forms
- Capture – Water attacks the cation
- Deprotonation – Water removes a proton
Key points
- Rate = k[R–X]: only ionisation is in the slow step.
- Tertiary (and benzylic, allylic) halides: the cation must be stable.
- The flat cation is attacked from both faces: racemisation.
- Polar protic solvents stabilise the ions; E1 competes on heating.
Drawn with 45 atoms, 8 arrows, 7 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw.
Sources
How to use this template
- Press Edit in MolDraw. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor.
- Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need.
- Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the SN1 substitution template free?
Yes. The SN1 substitution template is one of the free MolDraw templates: open it in the editor or download it from this page as SVG or PNG and use it in your slides, worksheets and notes.
Can I edit the SN1 substitution 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.
What is a curly-arrow mechanism template?
A ready-made drawing of a reaction mechanism in which curved arrows show where electron pairs move in each step. You can open it in MolDraw, change the substrate and reuse it.