Which of the following statements is true regarding E1 elimination reactions?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following statements is true regarding E1 elimination reactions?
They require a strong base
They proceed through a carbocation intermediate
They are stereospecific
They occur in a single step
E1 reactions proceed through a carbocation intermediate and are not stereospecific, unlike E2 reactions.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following statements is true regarding E1 elimination reactions?
Solution: E1 reactions proceed through a carbocation intermediate and are not stereospecific, unlike E2 reactions.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that E1 reactions are a type of elimination reaction in organic chemistry.
Step 2: Know that E1 stands for unimolecular elimination, meaning the reaction rate depends on the concentration of one reactant.
Step 3: Recognize that E1 reactions involve the formation of a carbocation intermediate, which is a positively charged carbon atom.
Step 4: Realize that after the carbocation is formed, a base removes a proton (H+) to form the double bond.
Step 5: Understand that E1 reactions are not stereospecific, meaning the product can have different spatial arrangements (stereoisomers) because the carbocation can be attacked from either side.
Step 6: Compare E1 with E2 reactions, which are bimolecular and proceed in a single step without forming a carbocation, and are stereospecific.