Organic Chemistry

4th Edition
Paula Yurkanis Bruice
Chapter 11

Elimination Reactions
of Alkyl Halides
Competition Between
Substitution and
Elimination

Irene Lee
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
2004, Prentice Hall
In addition to substitution, an alkyl halide can undergo an
elimination reaction
The E2 Reaction
The weaker the base, the better it is as a leaving group
The Regioselectivity of the E2 Reaction

The major product of an E2 reaction is the most stable

alkene

The greater the number of substituents, the more stable

is the alkene
Reaction coordinate diagram for the E2 reaction of
2-bromobutane and methoxide ion
 The Zaitsev Rule

The more substituted alkene product is obtained when a

proton is removed from the b-carbon that is bonded
to the fewest hydrogens

The most stable alkene is generally (but not always) the

most substituted alkene
Conjugated alkene products are preferred over the
more substituted alkene product

Do not use Zaitsevs rule to predict the major product

in these cases
Steric hindrance also affects the product distribution
Another exception to Zaitsevs rule
Consider the elimination of 2-fluoropentane
A carbanion-like transition state
Relative stabilities of carbanions

R R R H
R C: - < R C: - < H C: - < H C: -
R H H H
tertiary secondary primary methyl
carbanion carbanion carbanion anion

least most
stable stable
The E1 Reaction
Reaction coordinate diagram for the E1 reaction of
2-chloro-2-methylbutane
Because the E1 reaction forms a carbocation
intermediate, we need to consider carbocation
rearrangement
Competition Between E2 and E1
Reactions
 Stereochemistry of the E2 Reaction
The bonds to the eliminated groups (H and X) must be
in the same plane

HX H

X
the more stable conformation

The anti elimination is favored over the syn elimination

Another view of the E2 reaction mechanism

The best overlap of the interacting orbitals is achieved

through back side attack
Anti elimination avoids repulsion of the electron-rich
base
Consider the regioselectivity of the E2 reaction

The alkene with the bulkiest groups on opposite sides of

the double bond will be formed in greater yield, because
it is the more stable alkene
Reaction coordinate diagram for the E2 reaction of
2-bromopentane and ethoxide ion
The particular alkene isomer that is formed depends on
the configuration of the reactant
Stereochemistry of the E1 Reaction
 Elimination from Cyclic Compounds
In an E2 reaction, groups to be eliminated must be trans
to one another

H H

Br Br
E1 Elimination from Cyclic Compounds

An E1 reaction involves both syn and anti elimination

Utilization of kinetic isotope effect to study a reaction
mechanism
kH
CH2CH2Br -
+ CH3CH2O CH CH2 + Br- + CH3CH2OH

kD
CD2CH2Br -
+ CH3CH2O CD CH2 + Br- + CH3CH2OD

A carbon deuterium bond (CD) is stronger than a

carbon hydrogen bond (CH)
The deterium isotope is 7.1, indicating that CH (or CD)
bond must be broken in the rate-determining step
Competition Between Substitution and
Elimination
Alkyl halides can undergo SN2, SN1, E2 and E1

1) decide whether the reaction conditions favor SN2/E2 or SN1/E1

SN2/E2 reactions are favored by a high

concentration of nucleophile/strong base

SN1/E1 reactions are favored by a poor

nucleophile/weak base

2) decide how much of the product will be the substitution product

and how much of the product will be the elimination product
Consider the SN2/E2 conditions
A bulky base encourages elimination over substitution
A weak base encourages substitution over elimination

Cl OCH2CH3
+ CH3CH CH2 + CH3CH2OH
CH3CHCH3 + CH3CH2O- CH3CHCH3
+ Cl-
strong
base

O
Cl O OCCH3
CH3CHCH3 + CH3C O- CH3CHCH3 + Cl-

weak
base
Consider SN1/E1 conditions
Substitution and Elimination Reactions
in Synthesis
In synthesizing an ether, the less hindered group should
be provided by the alkyl halide

CH3 CH3
CH3CH2Br + CH3CO- Br- + CH3COCH2CH3 + CH2 CH2
CH3 CH3

CH3 CH3
CH3CH2O- + CH3CBr Br- + CH3C CH2 + CH3CH2OH
CH3
However, the most hindered alkyl halide
should be used if you want to synthesize an alkene
Consecutive E2 Elimination Reactions
 Intermolecular Versus Intramolecular
Reactions

A low concentration of reactant favors an intramolecular

reaction
The intramolecular reaction is also favored when a five-
or six-membered ring is formed
Three- and four-membered rings are less easily formed

Three-membered ring compounds are formed more

easily than four-membered ring compounds

The likelihood of the reacting groups finding each other

decreases sharply when the groups are in compounds
that would form seven-membered and larger rings.
Now we can design a synthesis

?
CH3 CH3
? Br
Br