Question

Menthyl chloride and neomenthyl chloride have the structures shown. one of these stereoisomers undergoes elimination on treatment with sodium ethoxide in ethanol much more readily than the other. which reacts faster, menthyl chloride or neomenthyl chloride? why?

Answer 1

The neomenthyl chloride has two opposite facing hydrogens which allows it to go through the process faster. The menthyl chloride hydrogen components are facing the same way and makes the chloride component in a differnet position. This makes its elimination happen slower than the neomenthyl chloride.