Question

What is the difference between elimination and substitution reaction

Identify the key factors that will determine if a reaction undergoes elimination or substitution mechanism.
Use the following reagents to determine the type of reaction pathway expected and determine the products in each reaction.

a. Tert BuO- in tertbutanol and chlorobutane
b. KOH in water and bromobutane
c. NaI in acetone and bromobutane

Write a conclusion of no more than two paragraphs to summarize your results

Answer 1

a) E2

b) SN2

c) SN2

Step-by-step explanation:

A substitution reaction involves replacement of an atom or group in a molecule by another atom or group. An elimination reaction is the loss of two atoms from the same molecule leading to the formation of a multiple bond in the molecule.

We must note that primary alkyl halides never undergo SN1/E1 reactions. However, the presence of a strong bulky base such as tert BuO- , E2 reactions predominate. In the presence of strong bases such as OH^- and good nucleophiles such as I^-, SN2 mechanism predominates.