Mechanisms of elimination reactions—XXVI: The α'-β mechanism in elimination reactions of sulforium salts

Abstract

Tracer studies with β-deuterated sulfonium salts have shown that the α'-β, or ylid mechanism can be the major path of elimination in the reaction of sulfonium salts with t-butoxide in t-butyl alcohol, while the E2 reaction is dominant with hydroxide in water or n-butoxide in n-butyl alcohol. The structure of the sulfonium salt also affects the propensity toward α'-β elimination, with 3-pentyl > 3-propyl and eyclopentyl > 3-pentyl > cyclohexyl. The S-methyl protons of the sulfonium salt exchange at a rate much faster than that of the elimination reaction. A strongly basic medium and a syn-periplanar arrangement of the α-C-S and β-C-H bonds seem to be the two most important factors favoring the α'-β mechanism.