2. E1 reactions can be stereoselective
For some eliminations only one product is possible
For others may be a choice of two (or more) alkene products
Differ either in the location or stereochemistry of the double bond
Factors that control the stereochemistry and regiochemistry of the alkenes
Starting with E1 reactions
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4. For steric reasons
E-alkenes are lower in energy than Z-alkenes
Substituents can get farther apart from one another
Reaction that can choose which it forms is likely to favour the formation of E-alkenes
For alkenes formed by E1 elimination, less hindered E-alkene is favoured
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5. Geometry of the product is determined when the proton is lost from intermediate
carbocation
New pi bond only form if vacant p orbital of carbocation and breaking C–H bond are
aligned parallel
Two possible conformations of the carbocation with parallel orientations, one is more
stable than the other
Suffers less steric hindrance
Transition states on the route to the alkenes
E-alkene is lower in energy and more E-alkene than Z-alkene is formed
Stereoselective, reaction chooses to form predominantly one of two possible
stereoisomeric products
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7. Tamoxifen, important drug in the fight against breast cancer, one of the most
common forms of cancer
Works by blocking the action of the female sex hormone estrogen
Tetrasubstituted double bond can be introduced by an E1 elimination
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8. E1 reactions can be regioselective
E1 eliminations that can give more than one regio isomeric
alkene
Major product is the alkene that has the more substituents, more stable of two
possible products
More substituted alkenes are more stable
Stabilized when empty p* antibonding orbital can interact with filled orbitals of parallel
C–H and C–C bonds
More C–C or C–H bonds there are, more stable the alkene 8
10. More substituted alkene is more stable, does not explain why it one forms faster
Transition states leading to the two alkenes
Both form from the same carbocation, which one depends on which proton is lost
Removal of the proton on the right leads to a transition state in which there is a
monosubstituted double bond partly formed
Removal of the proton on the left leads to a partial double bond that is trisubstituted
More stable—the transition state is lower in energy, more substituted alkene forms
faster
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12. E2 eliminations have anti-periplanar transition states
New pi bond is formed by the overlap of C–H s bond with C–X s* antibonding orbital
Two orbitals have to lie in same plane for best overlap
Two conformations that allow this
One has H and X syn-periplanar
Other anti-periplanar
Anti-periplanar conformation more stable, staggered
Syn-periplanar conformation is eclipsed but,
Only in the anti-periplanar conformation are the bonds (and therefore the orbitals)
truly parallel 12
13. E2 eliminations take place from the anti-periplanar conformation
E2 elimination gives mainly one of two possible stereoisomers
2-Bromobutane has two conformations with H and Br anti-periplanar
One that is less hindered leads to more of the product, and the E-alkene
predominates
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14. There is a choice of protons to be eliminated
• Stereochemistry of the product results from which proton is anti-periplanar to the
leaving group
• when the reaction takes place, and the reaction is stereoselective as a result
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15. E2 eliminations can be stereospecific
Next example, one proton take part in the elimination
No choice of anti-periplanar transition states
Whether the product is E or Z, E2 reaction has only one course to follow
Outcome depends on which diastereoisomer of starting material is used
When first diastereoisomer is drawn with the proton
• Bromine anti-periplanar, as required, in the plane of the page,
• Two phenyl groups have to lie one in front and one behind the plane of the paper
As hydroxide attacks the C–H bond and eliminates Br
• This arrangement is preserved and the two phenyl groups end up trans (the
alkene is E) 15
17. Second dia-stereoisomer forms Z-alkene for the same reasons:
• Two phenyl groups are on the same side of H–C–C–Br plane in reactive anti-
periplanar conformation, end up cis in the product
• Each diastereoisomer gives a different alkene geometry at different rates
First reaction is about ten times as fast as the second
• Anti-periplanar conformation only reactive one, not necessarily the most
stable
Newman projection for second reaction shows that two phenyl groups have to lie
synclinal (gauche) to one another:
• Steric interaction between these large groups at any time
• Relatively small proportion of molecules adopt the right conformation for
elimination, slowing the process down
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18. Reactions in which the stereochemistry of the product is determined by the
stereochemistry of the starting material are called stereospecific
Stereoselective reactions give one predominant product because the reaction
pathway has a choice.
Either pathway of lower activation energy is preferred (kinetic control) or more stable
product (thermodynamic control)
Stereospecific reactions lead to the production of a single isomer as a direct result
of mechanism of reaction and the stereochemistry of the starting material
There is no choice
Reaction gives a different dia-stereoisomer of the product from each stereoisomer of
the starting material
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