KOH/Alcohol going E2

[Ibraiz]

E2 is favored by Aprotic solvent. Alcohol is Protic then why does it goes E2 mechanism with alcohol? Is it because of strong base?

Would it be safe to assume that every time we see a strong base it would be E2 even though the solvent is Protic?



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[UndergradGuy7]

Look at the type of carbon methyl, primary, secondary, or tertiary and the type of base, strong or weak.

Protic or aprotic is not a big deal. Type of carbon and type of base is more important.

 

[Ibraiz]

Thanks UndergradGuy7 for verifying the information. I usually paid close attention to the solvent as well.

 

[TexasDDS]

is the answer A, just to know?

 

[thewobblytooth]

Yes it's A. If the reaction was in aprotic solution, it would definitely react a lot faster because the aprotic solvents would stabilize the products formed. but if it were a protic solvent, the reaction would just react slower since the protic solvent forms H-bonds with the KOH and stabilizes that instead.

Protic solvents DO MATTER in the sense of SN1 and E1 because they really need that protic solvent in order to form the correct product! (correct me if I'm wrong)

 

[Baylor2011]

polar protic solvents matter w/ e1/sn1 because the carbocation intermediates need to be stabilized, which is a characteristic of a polar/protic solvent

 

[Ibraiz]

So SN1 and E1 we should be careful if its polar protic or aprotic. If its aprotic then it won't go SN1 or E1 but with SN2 and E2 it could go carry the mechanism even if we have protic solvent given strong base/nucleophile. right