Woodhead, John Leslie2018-04-172018-04-171974http://hdl.handle.net/10179/13109Some Dutch language throughoutThe primary kinetic isotope effects for the base-catalysed E2 elimination from a series of substituted 2-phenethyl bromides and 2-phenethyldimethylsulphonium bromides in dimethyl sulphoxide-water as solvent at 20° have been measured. A broad maximum in the isotope effect was observed for the 2-phenethyl bromides. The Hammett p value for each reaction series at 20° has also been determined and both were large and positive. Arrhenius plots using the kH/kD ratios for each of the p-MeO substituted compounds at 20°, 30° and 40° were carried out to determine the importance of proton tunnelling in these reactions. The usefulness of the primary Kinetic isotope effect as a measure of proton position in the E2 transition states for these reactions is discussed.enThe AuthorChemical kineticsProtonsThesisQ112840671https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112840671