Alc = Alcohol
KOH = Strong Base
Heat
**************
Whenever you see these three components, the reaction goes through E2 mechanism, which is why you see the cycloalkene product in this case.
Alc = Alcohol
KOH = Strong Base
Heat
**************
Whenever you see these three components, the reaction goes through E2 mechanism, which is why you see the cycloalkene product in this case.
This question came up for me too. Are you sure its alcohol for alc? I mean if you have alcohol and a strong base, wont you get acid-base reaction first before anything? In which case, what base you have left if anything would depend on what alcohol youre using.
I mean I cant think of it being anything other than alcohol but dont you think he should specify which alcohol? If you have t-butyl alcohol and OH-, then you get t-butyloxide, which is a bulky base and with E2 will give you the less substituted alkene, while ethanol with OH- would give you ethoxide and the more substituted alkene.
I think in that roadmap it didnt matter, but in general it would right?