Abstract: | The elimination of H20 from the molecular ions of trans-4- and trans-3-arylcyclohexanois takes place to a greater extent than in the corresponding cis isomers. The remarkable differences in abundance taken together with substituent effects and the results of deuterium labelling, show that configuration is retained in the molecular ions which undergo the elimination, and that this process is a cis-1,4 and cis-1,3 elimination in the trans-4- and trans-3- arylcyclohexanois, respectively. Possible mechanisms for the elimination in the cis isomers are discussed. |