A Rate study of base-promoted reactions in mixed hydroxylic solvents

Abstract

Among the many classes of organic reactions that have been considered from a theoretical point of view, elimination reactions figure prominently. In this thesis an attempt will be made to account for solvent effects on the rates of some elimination reactions in aqueous, alcoholic solvent mixtures. In 1,2, clefin-forming elimination of a hydrogen halide from an organic halide, three distinct mechanistic courses have been recognised. The essential difference between then lies in the relative timing of the removal of a proton from the β-carbon atom and the expulsion of a halide ion from the α-carbon atom.