Preparation of Alkenes
- these are elimination reactions - follow Saytzeff’s Rule – when a molecule of the form “HX” is eliminated from a compound, the hydrogen is removed from the adjacent carbon containing the least number of hydrogens, thus forming the more highly substituted product
1. Dehydration of alcohols - elimination of H-OH in the presence of a strong acid (usually H2SO4) and heat Ex. 1. Dehydrate ethanol Ex. 2. Dehydrate 2-butanol
2. Dehydrohalogenation - eliminationof HCl or HBr Utilizes KOH and ethanol (ethyl alcohol, C2H5OH, ETOH) as reagents Ex. 1. Dehydrohalogenate chloroethane. Ex. 2. Dehydrohalogenate 2-bromobutane.