b-Elimination involves the removal of a hydrogen atom from the b-carbon and a halogen atom from the a-carbon in a haloalkane. This process forms an alkene as a product.
What is b-elimination, and what is the result when a haloalkane with b-hydrogen atoms is treated with alcoholic potassium hydroxide?
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β-Elimination is a chemical reaction involving the removal of a leaving group and a proton from atoms located at the β-position (adjacent to each other) in a molecule. When a haloalkane with β-hydrogen atoms is treated with alcoholic potassium hydroxide (KOH), it undergoes β-elimination known as dehydrohalogenation. The base (OH⁻) abstracts a proton from a β-carbon, while the leaving group (halogen) is expelled. This results in the formation of an alkene. For example, in the reaction of 2-bromobutane, the process yields butene (CH₃CH=CHCH₃), illustrating the conversion of a haloalkane into an alkene through β-elimination.