Question 12.2: What product would you expect from a nucleophilic substituti...

What product would you expect from a nucleophilic substitution reaction of
(R)-1-bromo-1-phenylethane with cyanide ion, ^{-}C \equiv N, as nucleophile? Show the stereochemistry of both reactant and product, assuming that inversion of configuration occurs.

Strategy

Draw the R enantiomer of the reactant, and then change the configuration of the chirality center while replacing the –Br with a –CN.