Zaitsev Rule

Zaitsev Rule

 

the principle governing the separation of the elements of a hydrogen halide from alkyl halides. According to the rule, when an HX molecule (X is a halogen atom) is separated from an alkyl halide, the hydrogen is lost from the carbon atom with the least number of hydrogen atoms, that is, from the least hydrogenated one. For example, when (CH3)2 CHCHICH3 is treated with an alcohol solution of KOH, the main product that forms is trimethylethylene (CH3)2C═CHCH3; only an insignificant amount of (CH3)2CH—CH═CH2 forms. The Zaitsev rule was formulated by A. M. Zaitsev in 1875.