Solvolysis Reaction

[JBarr29]

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So a question I came across states that solvolysis is when the solvent acts as a nucleophile and perform an SN1 reaction on solute. However, with a weak base as the solvent, wouldn't SN1 and E1 compete with one another to produce either an alkene or an ether?

Any input?

 

[sfoksn]

yes, exactly, they usually come out together, forming multiple products (E1 products and Sn1 products)

 

[JBarr29]

yes, exactly, they usually come out together, forming multiple products (E1 products and Sn1 products)

cool i thought so...theyre usually always competing unless theres heat employed, but all the material i came across really stressed just the sn1

 

[sfoksn]

ya. another thing is that if the temperature is high, there is higher ratio of Elimination to Substitution. Generally for both Sn1/E1 and Sn2/E2.