ABSTRACT
Elimination reactions are those in which we remove two atoms or groups from a molecule to generate a multiple bond. Most of the examples we will discuss involve making a carbon-carbon double bond, but we will also make some triple bonds and a few carbon-heteroatom bonds. We previously saw elimination processes as a “side reaction” of substitution-now, we turn the tables and see substitution as a side reaction of a desired elimination. Although we have good methodologies for inducing reactions to go in one direction or the other, we should recognize that there may always be some competition. In this chapter, we will concentrate initially on eliminations to give alkenes, turning later to alkynes, and multiple bonds involving heteroatoms.
