Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
What mechanism is going to happen? You'll know by the end of this video! A flow chart for deciding between SN1, SN2, E1, and E2 mechanisms is explained. The ultimate decision matrix for discerning which reaction pathway prevails under various conditions!
📥Download the Flow Chart: patreon.com/posts/sn2-sn1-e2-e1-145286298?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
📘Master the Mechanisms! Grab the Organic Chemistry Reaction Mechanisms Survival Guide: payhip.com/b/rYbBp
🧠Full Mechanisms Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMtvqt_IBtezyBX_kk447pxZ
🍵Buy the Professor a tea to keep the videos coming: patreon.com/c/ChemistryinaNutshell
🧬If you need a refresher on chirality for mechanisms to make sense, start here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMupOdw1Wgy8YauiQ40J_5nx
🧪For all of my ochem videos in one place: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMuKRkW9gDV7vlAk4Y9WRU7c
🦠If you need to take the MCAT: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMuJZI5IVWO8X0syBANn-YqY
🥽As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
🥼Need a molecular model kit or other chem supplies? amazon.com/shop/chemnut?ccs_id=11f20bce-5f74-427b-85fb-bdf66849405a
🔬Start any shopping journey here: amzn.to/3IXuAcS
0:00 The Big Question: SN1, SN2, E1, or E2?
0:39 SN1 and E1: The Carbo-cation Common Ground
1:20 Carbocation Stability (Tertiary vs. Secondary)
2:06 SN1: Nucleophilic Substitution Mechanism
2:33 E1: Beta-Elimination Mechanism
3:16 The Temperature Trick: Heat vs. Room Temp
3:45 SN2: The Famous Backside Attack & Inversion
5:23 E2: Strong Base Mechanism
6:34 E2 Conditions: Tertiary, Secondary, and Bulky Bases
7:42 The Ultimate Flow Chart (Actionable Steps)
7:56 Rule 1: Methyl Substrates (SN2 Only)
8:34 Rule 2: Primary Substrates (SN2 vs. Bulky Base E2)
9:38 Rule 3: Secondary Substrates (The 4-Way Split)
10:59 Rule 4: Tertiary Substrates (No SN2 Allowed!)
11:38 Practice Problems & Mechanism Identification
11:51 Problem A Walkthrough (Primary + Medium Base)
12:28 Problem B Walkthrough (Secondary + Strong Base)
13:20 Problem C Walkthrough (Tertiary + Weak Nucleophile)
14:10 Final Major Products Revealed
Citations:
Paula Yurkanis Bruice, "Organic Chemistry" 8th ed
openstax.org/details/books/organic-chemistry
openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e
Music: youtu.be/lL6AsbG07xY
What mechanism is going to happen? You'll know by the end of this video! A flow chart for deciding between SN1, SN2, E1, and E2 mechanisms is explained. The ultimate decision matrix for discerning which reaction pathway prevails under various conditions!
📥Download the Flow Chart: patreon.com/posts/sn2-sn1-e2-e1-145286298?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
📘Master the Mechanisms! Grab the Organic Chemistry Reaction Mechanisms Survival Guide: payhip.com/b/rYbBp
🧠Full Mechanisms Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMtvqt_IBtezyBX_kk447pxZ
🍵Buy the Professor a tea to keep the videos coming: patreon.com/c/ChemistryinaNutshell
🧬If you need a refresher on chirality for mechanisms to make sense, start here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMupOdw1Wgy8YauiQ40J_5nx
🧪For all of my ochem videos in one place: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMuKRkW9gDV7vlAk4Y9WRU7c
🦠If you need to take the MCAT: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMuJZI5IVWO8X0syBANn-YqY
🥽As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
🥼Need a molecular model kit or other chem supplies? amazon.com/shop/chemnut?ccs_id=11f20bce-5f74-427b-85fb-bdf66849405a
🔬Start any shopping journey here: amzn.to/3IXuAcS
0:00 The Big Question: SN1, SN2, E1, or E2?
0:39 SN1 and E1: The Carbo-cation Common Ground
1:20 Carbocation Stability (Tertiary vs. Secondary)
2:06 SN1: Nucleophilic Substitution Mechanism
2:33 E1: Beta-Elimination Mechanism
3:16 The Temperature Trick: Heat vs. Room Temp
3:45 SN2: The Famous Backside Attack & Inversion
5:23 E2: Strong Base Mechanism
6:34 E2 Conditions: Tertiary, Secondary, and Bulky Bases
7:42 The Ultimate Flow Chart (Actionable Steps)
7:56 Rule 1: Methyl Substrates (SN2 Only)
8:34 Rule 2: Primary Substrates (SN2 vs. Bulky Base E2)
9:38 Rule 3: Secondary Substrates (The 4-Way Split)
10:59 Rule 4: Tertiary Substrates (No SN2 Allowed!)
11:38 Practice Problems & Mechanism Identification
11:51 Problem A Walkthrough (Primary + Medium Base)
12:28 Problem B Walkthrough (Secondary + Strong Base)
13:20 Problem C Walkthrough (Tertiary + Weak Nucleophile)
14:10 Final Major Products Revealed
Citations:
Paula Yurkanis Bruice, "Organic Chemistry" 8th ed
openstax.org/details/books/organic-chemistry
openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e
Music: youtu.be/lL6AsbG07xY
