Elimination Reactions

Heating an alkyl halide with a strong base causes elimination of a

molecule of HX

1.
Potassium hydroxide dissolved in ethanol and the sodium
salts of alcohols (such as sodium ethoxide) are often used as
the base for dehydrohalogenation. The sodium salt of an
alcohol (a sodium alkoxide) can be prepared by treating an
alcohol with sodium metal

• MECHANISMS OF DEHYDROHALOGENATIONS
1. E2 reaction. Rate equation
Rate = k [CH3CHBrCH3] [C2H5O–]
2. E1 reaction
 E2 Mechanism
The basic ethoxide ion begins to remove a proton from the β-
carbon using its electron pair to form a bond to it. At the same
tim, the electron pair of the β C−H bond begins to move in to
become the π bond of a double bond, and the bromide begins
to depart with the electrons that bonded it to the α carbon
• Partial bonds now exist between the oxygen and the
β hydrogen and between the α carbonand the
bromine. The carbon-carbon bond is developing
double bond character.
• Now the double bond of the alkene is fully formed
and the alkene has a trigonal plannar geometry at
each carbon atom. The other products are a
molecule of ethanol and a bromide ion.
 E1Mechanism
• Treating tert-butyl chloride with 80% aqueous ethanol at
25°C gives substitution products in 83% yield and an
elimination product in 17% yield.
The initial step for reactions is the formation of a
tert-butyl cation.
Whether substitution or elimination takes place
depends on the next step (the fast step)

The E1 reaction almost always accompany SN1 reactions.

Step-1 : Aided by the polar solvent a chlorine departs with the
electron pair that bonded it to the carbon.

Step-2 : A molecule of water removes one of the hydrogens from

the β carbon of the carbocation. An electron pair moves in to
form a double bond between the α and β carbon atoms
 SUBSTITUTION VERSUS ELIMINATION

1. Because the reactive part of a nucleophile

or a base is an unshared electron pair, all
nucleophiles are potential bases and all
bases are potential nucleophiles.
2. Nucleophileic substitution reactions and
elimination reactions often compete with
each other.
 SN2VsE2
Since eliminations occur best by an E2 path when carried
out with a high concentration of a strong base (and thus a
high concentration of a strong nucleophile), substitution
reactions by an SN2 path often compete with the elimination
reaction. When the nucleophile (base) attacks a β carbon
atom, elimination occurs. When the nucleophile (base)
attacks the carbon atom
bearingtheleavinggroup,substitution results.
Primary halides and ethoxide: substitution is favored
Secondary halides: elimination is favored
 In Tertiary Halides
• Elimination is favored when the reaction is carried
out at higher temperature.
• Eliminations have higher free energies of activation
than substitutions because eliminations have a
greater change in bonding (more bonds are broken
and formed).
• Eliminations have higher entropies than
substitutions because eliminations have a greater
number of products formed than that of starting
compounds).
• Any substitution that occurs must take place through
an SN1 mechanism
Zaitsev rule: an elimination occurs to give the most
stable, more highly substituted alkene
AN EXCEPTION TO ZAITSEV’S RULE
A bulky base such as potassium tert-butoxide in tert-butyl alcohol favors the
formation of the less substituted alkene in dehydrohalgenation reactions

The reason for leading to Hofmann’s product:

• i) The steric bulk of the base.
• ii) The association of the base with the solvent molecules make it even
larger.
• iii) tert-Butoxide removes one of the more exposed (1°) hydrogen atoms
instead of the internal (2°) hydrogen atoms due to its greater crowding in
the transition state.
Dehydration of alcohols:
Heating most alcohols with a strong acid causes them to lose a
molecule of water and form an alkene
The reaction is an elimination and is favored at higher
temperatures. The most commonly used acids in the laboratory
are Brønsted acids-proton donors such as sulfuric acid and
phosphoric acid.
Lewis acids such as alumina (Al2O3) are often used in industrial,
fast phase dehydrations.
Primary alcohols are the most difficult to dehydrate,
Secondary alcohols usually dehydrate under milder conditions,
Tertiary alcohols are usually dehydrated under extremely mild
conditions.
 Elimination Reactions, E1 and E2:

•We have seen that alkyl halides may react with basic nucleophiles such as
NaOH via substitution reactions.
H H
.. H .. .. .. .. ..
:O H + C Br : H ..O C Br : H C + : Br :
..
H
.. .. ..O ..
H
H HH H
transition state

•Also recall our study of the preparation of alkenes. When a 2° or 3° alkyl halide
is treated with a strong base such as NaOH, dehydrohalogenation occurs
producing an alkene – an elimination (E2) reaction.

KOH in ethanol + KBr + H2O

Br
-HBr

• bromocyclohexane + KOH  cyclohexene (80 % yield)

•Substitution and elimination reactions are often in competition. We shall

consider the determining factors after studying the mechanisms of elimination.

19
 E2 Reaction Mechanism

• There are 2 kinds of elimination reactions, E1 and E2.

• E2 = Elimination, Bimolecular (2nd order). Rate = k [RX] [Nu:-]

 E2 reactions occur when a 2° or 3° alkyl halide is treated with a strong
base such as OH-, OR-, NH2-, H-, etc.
H
 C C + Br- + HO H
OH- + C C
b
Br
The Nu:- removes an H+ from a b-carbon & the
halogen leaves forming an alkene.

 All strong bases, like OH-, are good nucleophiles. In 2° and 3° alkyl
halides the -carbon in the alkyl halide is hindered. In such cases, a
strong base will ‘abstract’ (remove) a hydrogen ion (H+) from a b-carbon,
before it hits the -carbon. Thus strong bases cause elimination (E2) in
2° and 3° alkyl halides and cause substitution (SN2) in unhindered
methyl° and 1° alkyl halides.
20
 E2 Reaction Mechanism

•In E2 reactions, the Base to H  bond formation, the C to H  bond breaking,

the C to C  bond formation, and the C to Br  bond breaking all occur
simultaneously. No carbocation intermediate forms.

B:- d
+
B
H R H R R R
C C R C C C C + B H + X-
R R R R
R X R R
X-
d

•Reactions in which several steps occur simultaneously are called ‘concerted’

reactions.
•Zaitsev’s Rule:
•Recall that in elimination of HX from alkenes, the more highly substituted
(more stable) alkene product predominates.
Br CH3CH2O-Na+
CH3CH2CHCH3 CH3CH CHCH3 + CH3CH2CH CH2
EtOH 2-butene 1-butene

major product minor product

( > 80%) ( < 20%)
21
 E2 Reactions are ‘antiperiplanar’

 E2 reactions, do not always follow Zaitsev’s rule.

 E2 eliminations occur with anti-periplanar geometry,

i.e., periplanar means that all 4 reacting atoms - H,
C, C, & X - all lie in the same plane. Anti means that
H and X (the eliminated atoms) are on opposite sides
of the molecules.

 Look at the mechanism again and note the opposite

side & same plane orientation of the mechanism:
B:- d
+
B
H R H R R R
C C R C C C C + B H + X-
R R R R
R X R R
X-
d
22
 Antiperiplanar E2 Reactions in Cyclic Alkyl Halides

 When E2 reactions occur in open chain alkyl halides, the

Zaitsev product is usually the major product. Single bonds can
rotate to the proper alignment to allow the antiperiplanar
elimination.
 In cyclic structures, however, single bonds cannot rotate. We
need to be mindful of the stereochemistry in cyclic alkyl halides
undergoing E2 reactions.
• See the following example.
 Trans –1-chloro-2-methylcyclopentane undergoes E2
elimination with NaOH. Draw and name the major product.
H H3C H
H3C H Na+ OH- NaCl
+
H H3C
H H H + HOH
H
H
E2 H
Cl
Little or no Zaitsev (more stable)
Non Zaitsev product product is formed.
is major product.

3-methylcyclopentene 1-methylcyclopentene
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 E1 Reactions

 Just as SN2 reactions are analogous to E2 reactions, so SN1 reactions have

an analog, E1 reaction.
 E1 = Elimination, unimolecular (1st order); Rate = k  [RX]

CH3 CH3
slow H
rapid CH3
CH3 C Br CH3 C+ -
C C + B H + Br
- Br-
CH3 H C H
CH3 H
H B:-

 E1 eliminations, like SN1 substitutions, begin with unimolecular

dissociation, but the dissociation is followed by loss of a proton from the
b-carbon (attached to the C+) rather than by substitution.
 E1 & SN1 normally occur in competition, whenever an alkyl halide is
treated in a protic solvent with a nonbasic, poor nucleophile.
 Note: The best E1 substrates are also the best SN1 substrates, and
mixtures of products are usually obtained.

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 E1 Reactions

 As with E2 reactions, E1 reactions also produce the more highly

substituted alkene (Zaitsev’s rule). However, unlike E2 reactions where no
C+ is produced, C+ rearrangements can occur in E1 reactions.
 e.g., t-butyl chloride + H2O (in EtOH) at 65 C  t-butanol + 2-methylpropene

CH3 H2O, EtOH CH3 CH3 H

CH3 C Cl CH3 C OH + C C
65ºC
CH3 CH3 CH3 H
36%
64%
E1
S N1
product
product

 In most unimolecular reactions, SN1 is favored over E1, especially at low

temperature. Such reactions with mixed products are not often used in
synthetic chemistry.
 If the E1 product is desired, it is better to use a strong base and force the
E2 reaction.
 Note that increasing the strength of the nucleophile favors SN1 over E1.
Can you postulate an explanation?

25
 Predicting Reaction Mechanisms

1. Non basic, good nucleophiles, like Br- and I- will cause substitution not
elimination. In 3° substrates, only SN1 is possible. In Me° and 1°
substrates, SN2 is faster. For 2° substrates, the mechanism of
substitution depends upon the solvent.
2. Strong bases, like OH- and OR-, are also good nucleophiles.
Substitution and elimination compete. In 3° and 2° alkyl halides, E2 is
faster. In 1° and Me° alkyl halides, SN2 occurs.
3. Weakly basic, weak nucleophiles, like H2O, EtOH, CH3COOH, etc.,
cannot react unless a C+ forms. This only occurs with 2° or 3°
substrates. Once the C+ forms, both SN1 and E1 occur in competition.
The substitution product is usually predominant.
4. High temperatures increase the yield of elimination product over
substitution product. (DG = DH –TDS) Elimination produces more
products than substitution, hence creates greater entropy (disorder).
5. Polar solvents, both protic and aprotic, like H2O and CH3CN,
respectively, favor unimolecular reactions (SN1 and E1) by stabilizing
the C+ intermediate. Polar aprotic solvents enhance bimolecular
reactions (SN2 and E2) by activating the nucleophile.
26
 Predicting Reaction Mechanisms

- - - -
good Nu good Nu good Nu very poor Nu
alkyl nonbasic strong base strong bulky base nonbasic
halide e.g., bromide e.g., ethoxide e.g., t-butoxide e.g., acetic acid
- - -
(substrate) Br C2H5O (CH3)3CO CH3COOH

Me SN2 SN2 SN2 no reaction

1° SN2 SN2 E2 (SN2) no reaction

2 SN2 E2 E2 SN1, E1

3 SN1 E2 E2 SN1, E1

Strong bulky bases like t-butoxide are hindered. They have difficulty
hitting the -carbon in a 1° alkyl halide. As a result, they favor E2 over
SN2 products.

27
 Preparation of Alkyl Halides from Alcohols

• Alkyl halides can be prepared from alcohols by reaction with HX, i.e., the
substitution of a halide on a protonated alcohol.

3º - H2O
.. + ..
(Lucas Test) (CH3)3C Cl : + H2O
(CH ) C OH + H Cl (CH3)3C OH (CH3)3C + ..
SN1 33 .. .. 2
.. -
Rapid. 3° C+ is stabilized by protic sovent (H2O) : Cl :
..

 OH- is a poor leaving group, i.e., is not displaced directly by

nucleophiles. Reaction in acid media protonates the OH group
producing a better leaving group (H2O). 2 and 3 alcohols react by SN1
but Me° and 1 alcohols react by SN2.
1º
.. +
SN2 CH3CH2 OH + H Cl CH3CH2 OH2 CH3CH2Cl + H2O
.. D .. -
: Cl :
..
Very slow. Protic solvent inhibits the nucleophile.

 Draw the mechanism of the reaction of isopropyl alcohol with HBr.

 What products form if concentrated H2SO4 is used in place of aq. HCl?
28
 Preparation of Alkenes from Alkyl Halides

•On Slide 22 we noted that 2° and 3° alkyl halides can be dehydrohalogenated

with a strong base such as OH- producing an alkene.

KOH in ethanol + KBr + H2O

Br
-HBr

•bromocyclohexane + KOH  cyclohexene (80 % yield)

•Clearly, this is an E2 reaction.

 Predict the mechanism that occurs with a Me° or 1° alkyl halide.

 Predict the products and mechanism that occur with isopentyl chloride
and KOH

29
 Summary of SN /Elimination Reactions

• Alkyl Halide Substrate Reactivity:

methyl 1º 2º 3º

H H CH3 CH3

H C Br CH3 C Br CH3 C Br CH3 C Br

H H H CH3

unhindered substrates favor S N2 hindered substrates. S N2 increasingly unfavorable, E2 is OK

do not form a stable C + form increasingly stable C +
do not react by S N1 or E1 favors SN1 and E1. E2 is OK

E2 reactions possible with strong bases

E2 reactions possible with strong bulky bases (t-butoxide)

30
 Summary of SN /Elimination Reactions

•Reactivity
- -
of Nucleophiles:
- -
HS CN I CH3O HO- NH3 Cl- H2O

125,000 125,000 100,000 25,000 16,000 1000 700 1

good nucleophiles which are good nucleophiles which are

weak bases favor SN reactions also strong bases favor elimination

pKb = 23 pKb = 22 pKb = 21 pKb = 11 pKb = -1.7 pKb = -2 pKb = -21

I- Br - Cl- F- HO- RO- H2N-
30,000 10,000 200 1 0 0 0

•Note that poor nucleophiles that are also weak bases (H2O, ROH, CH3COOH,
etc.) do not undergo any reaction unless a C+ is formed first. If a C+ can form
(as with a 2º, 3º, any benzylic, or any allylic halides), then E1 and SN1

generally occur together .

•Leaving Group Activity:
good leaving groups favor both poor leaving groups make both 31
substitution and elimination reactions substitution and elimination
reactions unfavorable