Identify the major mechanistic pathway when 1-methyl-1-bromocyclopentane is treated with sodium methoxide.Select answer from the options belowSN1  E1  no significant reaction  E2  SN2

The reaction of 1-methyl-1-bromocyclopentane with sodium methoxide would follow the SN2 (bimolecular nucleophilic substitution) pathway.

Here's the step-by-step mechanism:

1. Sodium methoxide (NaOCH3) is a strong base and a good nucleophile. In the first step, the methoxide ion (OCH3-) will act as a nucleophile and attack the carbon atom that is attached to the bromine atom in 1-methyl-1-bromocyclopentane.

2. This attack will cause the carbon-bromine bond to break, with the pair of electrons in the bond going to the bromine atom. This results in the formation of a bromide ion (Br-) and a new carbon-oxygen bond in the product.

3. The product of this reaction is 1-methylcyclopentyl methylether. The reaction is a one-step process where the bond breaking and bond forming processes happen simultaneously. This is characteristic of an SN2 reaction.

So, the correct answer is SN2.