CHEM 281 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Elimination Reaction, Stereoselectivity, Substitution Reaction

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: CHEM 281
• Professor: Nabyl Merbouh

Document Summary

The only elimination reactions that primary and secondary alkyl halides undergo are e2 reactions. Tertiary alkyl halides undergo both e2 and e1 reactions. For alkyl halides that can undergo both e2 and e1 reactions, the e2 reaction is favored by a strong base) and the e1 reaction is favored by a weak base (that is, a weakly basic solvent). An e2 reaction is stereoselective: anti elimination is favored. If the b-carbon has two hydrogens, then both e and z stereoisomers are formed; the one with the largest groups on opposite sides of the double bond is formed in greater yield because it is more stable. If the b-carbon is bonded to only one hydrogen, then only one alkene is formed in an. E2 reaction; its structure depends on the structure of the alkyl halide. Both e and z stereoisomers are formed regardless of the number of hydrogens bonded to the b-carbon.