Question

How could you change the reaction conditions given to most strongly favor an E2 mechanism?

a) Increase temperature and use a bulky base
b) Decrease temperature and use a polar solvent
c) Increase temperature and use a small, non-bulky base
d) Decrease temperature and use a strong nucleophile

Answer 1

Option (a) increasing the temperature and using a bulky base is the best way to favor an E2 mechanism as it encourages elimination over substitution and creates steric hindrance that limits SN2 reactions.

Step-by-step explanation:

To most strongly favor an E2 mechanism in a reaction, one should increase the temperature and use a bulky base. This is best represented by option (a). Increasing the temperature typically favors elimination over substitution, as elimination processes are generally more entropy-driven. A bulky base is preferred for the E2 mechanism because it causes more steric hindrance, making it more difficult for the base to participate in substitution reactions (which would lead to an SN2 mechanism). Thus, a bulky base helps to ensure that an E2 elimination occurs rather than an SN2 substitution.