Assertion (A) Hydrolysis of (-)-2-bromooctane proceeds with inversion of configuration
Reason (R) This reaction proceeds through the formation of a carbocation.

Options

A. Assertion and reason both are correct and reason is correct explanation of assertion
B. Assertion and reason both are wrong statements
C. Assertion is correct but reason is wrong statement
D. Assertion is wrong but reason is correct statement.

Explanation

To solve the question, we need to analyze both the assertion and the reason provided.

### Step 1: Understand the Assertion
The assertion states that the hydrolysis of (-)-2-bromooctane proceeds with inversion of configuration.

- **Explanation**: In an SN2 reaction, the nucleophile (OH⁻ in this case) attacks the carbon atom that is bonded to the leaving group (Br) from the opposite side. This back-side attack leads to the inversion of configuration at the carbon center. Since (-)-2-bromooctane is a chiral molecule, the inversion of configuration means that the product will have the opposite configuration compared to the starting material.

### Step 2: Analyze the Reason
The reason states that this reaction proceeds through the formation of a carbocation.

- **Explanation**: In SN2 reactions, there is no formation of a carbocation. Instead, the nucleophile attacks the substrate directly, leading to a concerted mechanism where the bond to the leaving group breaks as the bond to the nucleophile forms. Carbocation formation is characteristic of SN1 reactions, not SN2.

### Step 3: Conclusion
- The assertion is **true**: Hydrolysis of (-)-2-bromooctane does proceed with inversion of configuration.
- The reason is **false**: This reaction does not proceed through the formation of a carbocation; it is an SN2 mechanism.

### Final Answer
The assertion is correct, but the reason is incorrect.

---