Nucleophile Attacks: An Accurate Incident Analysis

in practice, the product often shows complete, or virtually complete, formation of the recemic mixturebut it depends how rapidly thenucleophile attacks the central carbon atom of the carbocation. If the solvert can also act s a nucleophile (e.g. H2O) then attack is likely to be more rapid even before the carbocation can achieve its planae from. The result will be more
inversion.