9. Alkenes and Alkynes
Dehydration Reaction
31PRACTICE PROBLEM
E1 elimination reactions of alkyl halides usually give a mixture of substitution and elimination products which is why these are not commonly used for synthetic purposes.
On the other hand, the sulfuric acid-catalyzed dehydration of cyclopentanol gives a good yield of cyclopentene although it follows the same E1 mechanism. Explain why this reaction does not give substitution products.
E1 elimination reactions of alkyl halides usually give a mixture of substitution and elimination products which is why these are not commonly used for synthetic purposes.
On the other hand, the sulfuric acid-catalyzed dehydration of cyclopentanol gives a good yield of cyclopentene although it follows the same E1 mechanism. Explain why this reaction does not give substitution products.