Until now, all of the nucleophilic substitution reactions that we have seen have involved direct displacement at a carbon center: that is, the carbon that is bonded directly to the leaving group is th...Until now, all of the nucleophilic substitution reactions that we have seen have involved direct displacement at a carbon center: that is, the carbon that is bonded directly to the leaving group is the target for the attacking nucleophile. In addition, it is interesting to note that the cyclization stage of the reaction is spontaneous - in other words, it occurs without the need for enzyme catalysis, as soon as the alcohol is converted to an ester (making it a good leaving group).
