Russian chemist Alexander Zaitsev formulated the Zaitsev rule in 1875. The rule states that in dehydrohalogenation reactions, the preferred product is the alkene with the greater number of alkyl groups attached to the doubly bonded carbon atoms.
Who formulated the rule that determines the major product in dehydrohalogenation reactions, and what does the Zaitsev rule state?
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The Zaitsev rule, formulated by Russian chemist Alexander Zaitsev, states that in dehydrohalogenation reactions (elimination reactions), the major product is the alkene with the most substituted double bond. According to this rule, the more substituted alkene is favored due to increased stability resulting from hyperconjugation and resonance effects. The Zaitsev rule guides predictions about regioselectivity in elimination reactions, helping to determine which alkene is the major product. While there are exceptions, the Zaitsev rule is a valuable generalization in understanding the outcome of dehydrohalogenation reactions.