CHM 2123 Study Guide - Reaction Mechanism, Ibm System P, Steric Effects
Document Summary
Competing reacts make it very difficult to retain a large yield in chemical reactions. Because it is very difficult to create an ideal environment, reactions can occur through different mechanisms creating more than one product. When preparing an experiment it is important to set up the system with the proper conditions in order to achieve maximum yield for your specific reaction. Through these different conditions alkyl halides can either undergo substitution or elimination reactions, both producing different products. In an e1 reaction, this process happens in two steps. This unimolecular reaction first has the leaving group depart and then the hydrogen is deprotonated to create the double bond, whereas in a bimolecular e2 reaction, this happens simultaneously. This experiment observes the step and requirements for an e2 reaction to occur. As mentioned, elimination and substitution reacts can occur in given conditions because most nucleophiles appear as strong bases as well.
