Oxygen As A Leaving Group Using Tosylate And Mesylate in Substitution and Elimination Reactions

SN1 SN2 E1 Series: Video 8
Oxygen makes a poor leaving group in substitution and elimination reactions.

That is, when left in its initial form.

The key to kicking out an oxygen is to ‘bribe it' by turning it into a better leaving group.

Watch this video for a detailed explanation with examples using tosylate, mesylate and more.

(Watch on YouTube: Leaving Groups 2. Click CC on bottom right for transcript.)

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This is Video 8 in the Nucleophilic Substitution and Beta Elimination Video Series. Click HERE for the entire series.

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