Chapter 11: Arenes and Aromaticity
Eliminations of Benzylic Systems.
Reaction type: Elimination (E1 or E2)
Summary:
Benzylic alcohols undergo
acid catalysed dehydration
readily via an
E1 pathway
to form conjugated alkenes (
review
)
Benzylic halides undergo
base catalysed dehydrohalogenation
via an
E2 pathway
to form conjugated alkenes (
review
)
The stability of the conjugated system usually favours the conjugated product.
Example
:
Related reactions
Dehydration of alcohols
Dehydrohalogenation of alkyl halides
Preparation of Conjugated Dienes
©
Dr. Ian Hunt
, Department of Chemistry