"Which of the following reactions is most likely to proceed by an Sn2 mechanism?
CN- + .......some electrophile
CH3OH + .....same electrophile"
So it is comparing the nucleophile strengths. The answer was that the CN- reaction would be more likely, because CN- is a stronger nucleophile.
However, if you look at the conjugate acids, isn't CH3OH2 + a stronger acid than HCN because of the + charge? And that would imply that the conjugate base (the nucleophile in the question, CH3OH) is more...
CN- vs. CH3OH in terms of nucleophilicity
CN- + .......some electrophile
CH3OH + .....same electrophile"
So it is comparing the nucleophile strengths. The answer was that the CN- reaction would be more likely, because CN- is a stronger nucleophile.
However, if you look at the conjugate acids, isn't CH3OH2 + a stronger acid than HCN because of the + charge? And that would imply that the conjugate base (the nucleophile in the question, CH3OH) is more...
CN- vs. CH3OH in terms of nucleophilicity