Kinetics and mechanism of the olefin-forming elimination producing phenylsulfonylethene

[2-(Phenylsulfonyl)ethyl]trimethylammonium iodide, its 2,2-dideuterio deriv ative, and 1-chloro-2-(phenylsulfonyl)ethane have been synthesized, and the kinetics of their elimination reaction giving phenylsulfonylethene have be en studied in methanolic solutions of acetate, triethylamine, morpholine, a nd butylamine buffers. The kinetic experiments show that the reaction is sp ecific-base-catalyzed and its rate is independent of the ionic strength, an d the primary isotope effect is 3.5. The results of kinetic measurements ar e discussed from the point of view of the E1cB mechanism.