A Study of selected elimination reactions in alcohol-water mixtures

Abstract

1 The existing theories of solvent effects in alcohol-water mixtures are examined, and discussed in the light of the literature evidence for bimolecular reactions in these solvents and particularly with reference to bimolecular elimination reactions. 2 Experimental work, carried out with the aim of further testing the validity of these theories is described. The bimolecular elimination reactions between base and the substrates β -phenyl ethyl bromide and ethylene dibromide are found to be intelligible in terms of the existing theories. 3 The apparently anomalous behaviour of the reaction between D.D.T. and base in methanol-water mixtures is noted.