Organic Chemistry

An elimination reaction is the opposite of an addition reaction.
This reaction is in an ethanol reflux with NaOH. No acid
or H2O is present. Below is a two step mechanism.
A single step mechanism is also possible.
Problems 15.41b, 43
7 Reactions of Alcohols
The addition reaction to produce an alcohol from an alkene is a
reversible reaction. The reverse reaction reverses the
steps of the addition reaction.
H
OH
H
H
O
The carbocation takes the electrons from an adjacent C–H bond
to form an alkene.
H
+
H+ is produced at the end again. It is a catalyst for the reverse
reaction also.
This reversible reaction can be shown by:
CH 2 =CH 2
H + ,+H 2 O
H + ,-H 2 O
The use of dilutes H2SO4 will accomplish the forward reaction.
Concentrated H2SO4 will accomplish the reverse reaction,
because the concentrated acid will remove excess water.
+
+ H +
# ! !!! !!! ! " CH CH OH
3 2