Textbook Question
Provide a mechanism for the following E1 reactions.
(b)
8. Elimination Reactions
E1 Reaction
Problem 66b
Textbook Question
Give a mechanism for the following substitution and elimination reactions.
(b) 
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Analyze the reactants and products. The reactant is a tertiary alkyl bromide, and the product is an alkene. The reaction involves elimination, likely an E2 mechanism due to the presence of a strong base (ethanol).
Step 2: Identify the base and its role. Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) acts as a nucleophile and base, facilitating the elimination of the bromide group and a proton from a β-carbon.
Step 3: Determine the β-hydrogens available for elimination. The tertiary carbon bonded to bromine has adjacent β-carbons with hydrogens that can be abstracted by the base.
Step 4: Describe the elimination mechanism. The base abstracts a β-hydrogen, forming a double bond between the α-carbon (attached to bromine) and the β-carbon. Simultaneously, the bromide ion leaves as a leaving group.
Step 5: Confirm the product formation. The major product is the more substituted alkene (Zaitsev's rule), which is the one shown in the image. This occurs because the elimination favors the formation of the more stable alkene.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Nucleophilic Substitution Mechanisms
Nucleophilic substitution reactions involve the replacement of a leaving group by a nucleophile. The two primary mechanisms are SN1 and SN2. SN1 is a two-step process where the leaving group departs first, forming a carbocation, followed by nucleophilic attack. In contrast, SN2 is a one-step mechanism where the nucleophile attacks the substrate simultaneously as the leaving group departs, leading to an inversion of configuration.
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Elimination Reactions
Elimination reactions involve the removal of a small molecule, typically water or hydrogen halide, from a larger molecule, resulting in the formation of a double bond. The two main types are E1 and E2. E1 is a two-step process similar to SN1, where a carbocation intermediate is formed before the elimination occurs. E2 is a concerted mechanism where the base abstracts a proton while the leaving group departs, often requiring strong bases and specific stereochemistry.
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Regioselectivity and Stereoselectivity
Regioselectivity refers to the preference of a chemical reaction to yield one structural isomer over others, while stereoselectivity indicates the preference for one stereoisomer over another. In substitution and elimination reactions, these concepts are crucial for predicting the major products. Factors influencing regio- and stereoselectivity include the structure of the substrate, the nature of the nucleophile or base, and the reaction conditions.
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