When the nucleophile displaces the iodide, the reaction between the nucleophilic 2-naphthol and electrophilic n-butyl iodide forms butyl naphthyl ether. This is an SN2 mechanism because the first reaction is between NaOH and 2-naphthol which removes the hydrogen from the alcohol group and an oxide ion is formed on the NaOH. The 2-naphthol then displaces the iodide to form butyl naphthyl ether and sodium iodide. In the procedure, the possibility of a side reaction occurring between the deprotonated ethanol is mentioned. If it were somehow possible to stop this reaction from occurring, the results and the percent yield of the ether would probably improve.
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