destroyer #46 org chem

[Hope30]

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The question reads, the following reaction is a double dehydrogenation:
2,3 dibromobutane reacts with excess sodium amine, ammonia/ water
yield 2-butyne.
Which mevhanism does this illustrate?
Answer is E2.
How come?
Water is polar protic solvent and sodium amine is strong base. It should be E1.
Weird...(sorry for the mess, i type through my phone.)

 

[Demps]

the leaving group here is not tertiary. It is secondary

secondary halide + strong base yields E2