SN1 vs. E1

[marmar]

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So unfortunately I can not copy past the actual question from the Kaplan website. so I ask it as a general question. I thought that E1 and SN1 are almost always together and it usually happens at the same time based on the fact that they both have favor the same conditions. now how do you know where only SN1 happens where only E1. and for people who have access to the Kaplan online prep tests. I am talking about the ochem test5 question 24.
Thanks

 

[Maygyver]

So unfortunately I can not copy past the actual question from the Kaplan website. so I ask it as a general question. I thought that E1 and SN1 are almost always together and it usually happens at the same time based on the fact that they both have favor the same conditions. now how do you know where only SN1 happens where only E1. and for people who have access to the Kaplan online prep tests. I am talking about the ochem test5 question 24.
Thanks

E1 occurs more often with heat I believe.

 

[atlanta213]

E1 favors heat over SN1

Also, Sn1 is nucleophilic substitution. Basically, if reaction form double bond it is E1 .

 

[PreDent2009]

E1 actually only occurs when reacting an alcohol with a strong acid (only sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid, H2SO4, or H3PO4) that is concentrated with heat. That is the only condition in which an E1 reaction can occur. The reason is because the delocal conjugate base is an awful nucleophile so it does not attack the carbocation to get a substitution product. If you use an alcohol and react it with HBr, Br- is a great nucleophile so it will attack the flat carbocation intermediate to give you a racemic mixture if the attack allows for the formation of a chiral center.

E1 occurs more often with heat I believe.