Temperature and pressure effects on the elimination reactions of diethyl ether with hydroxide and amide ions

Hydroxide and amide ion-induced elimination reactions of diethyl ether and diethyl ether-d(10) were investigated with a variable temperature flowing a fterglow apparatus. Temperature effects on reaction rates, kinetic isotope effects, and product distributions are reported. The pressure dependence of these transformations also were explored and mechanistic arguments are pre sented. This data confirms predictions based on statistical rate theory and ab initio calculations and provides valuable information on the potential energy surfaces for base-induced eliminations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B. V.