Cocatalysis in phase-transfer catalyzed β-elimination reactions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)87089-7

The phase-transfer catalyzed β-elimination of HBr from alkyl bromides with aqueous NaOH in two-phase systems proceeds efficiently when tetraalkylammonium salts and weak HO- or HN-acids are used as the catalysts. The latter continuously produce basic, moderately nucleophilic, lipophilic anions, which in the form of tetraalkylammonium salts afford the elimination in the organic phase.