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JEE Advanced levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 3 of 3o4160

Which statements about substitution versus elimination are correct?

  1. AWith 2-bromo-2-methylbutane, a bulky base gives more of the Hofmann alkene than a small base does.
  2. BWeakly basic nucleophiles such as and favour substitution over elimination at secondary carbon.
  3. CA polar aprotic solvent increases the nucleophilicity of anions and speeds up SN2 at a primary carbon.
  4. DA tertiary halide reacts with ethoxide mainly by SN2.

Answer: A, B, C

Bulky bases remove the most accessible beta-H (Hofmann). Weak bases that are good nucleophiles prefer attack at carbon. Aprotic solvents leave anions unsolvated and more reactive. Tertiary centres are too hindered for SN2, so the last statement is false.
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