Synthesis of Alkenes by Elimination Reactions
E2 dehydrohalogenation gives excellent yields with bulky secondary and tertiary alkyl halides that are poor SN2 substrates. A strong bulky base forces second order elimination by abstracting a proton. The bulkiness of the base hinders second order substitution. Tertiary halides are the best E2 substrates because they are prone to elimination and cannot undergo SN2 substitution.