Question

Which of the following reagents is not suitable for the elimination reaction $?$

$(1)$ NaI
$(2)$ NaOEt $|$ EtOH
$(3)$ NaOH $|$ ${H_2}O$
$(4)$ NaOH $|$ ${H_2}O$ - EtOH

Answer 1

Hint : The given reaction shows an elimination reaction of bromopropane to propene. The bromine atom along with the hydrogen atom of the $\beta $ carbon gets eliminated as HBr to form a double bond. Now, we have to find which among the given reagents is not suitable for the elimination reaction to occur. Strong nucleophiles will give an elimination reaction rather than a substitution reaction.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Elimination reactions are endothermic organic reactions that are used to prepare alkenes from alkyl halides and alcohols.
Strong nucleophiles act as better reagents for elimination reactions. Now we have to find the strong nucleophiles among the given ones. $\mathop O\limits^ - \,Et$ and $O{H^ - }$ are strong bases and strong nucleophiles and in the presence of strong bases like ethanol, they promote elimination reaction. The base abstracts $\beta $ hydrogen from the alkyl halide.
Iodide ion, ${I^ - }$, is a weak base and therefore a weak nucleophile. Therefore, if we use NaI, a substitution reaction takes place ($S{N_2}$ ). In $S{N_2}$ mechanism, the incoming nucleophile (${I^ - }$ ) approaches in a direction opposite to the leaving group ( $B{r^ - }$ ) and a bond is made and broken simultaneously involving a five-membered transition state. This mechanism occurs in substitution reactions in primary alkyl halides. The bromide in bromopropane will be replaced by iodide ion. We get iodopropane as a product instead of an alkene. It does not favour elimination reactions. The reaction is as follows:

The right option is $(1)$ NaI.

Note :
The carbon atom to which the functional group is added, is called as $\alpha $ carbon and the immediate neighbouring carbon atom attached to $\alpha $ carbon is known as $\beta $ carbon. Hydrogen atoms attached to $\alpha $ carbon are called $\alpha $ hydrogen, and those attached to $\beta $ carbon are called $\beta $ hydrogen.