Experimental data on the stereoselectivity of base-catalyzed 1,2-elimination reactions that produce conjugated carbonyl compounds are scarce in spite of the importance of these reactions in organic and biochemistry. As part of a comprehensive study in this area, we have synthesized stereospecifically-deuterated β-tosyloxybutanoate esters and thioesters and studied the stereoselectivity of their elimination reactions under non-ion pairing conditions. With the availability of both the (2R*,3R*) and (2R*,3S*) diastereomers the innate stereoselectivity could be determined unambiguously. 1H and 2H NMR data show that these substrates produce 5–6% syn elimination, the usual amount for acyclic substrates undergoing E2 reactions. Contrary to earlier suggestions, activation by a carbonyl group has virtually no influence upon the stereoselectivity. Elimination of the (2R*,3R*) diastereomer of the β-tosyloxyester and thioester produces 21–25% of the (Z)-alkene, much more than observed with a poorer β-nucleofuge. A relatively large amount of (Z)-alkene product seems to be a good marker for an E2 pathway, in which the transition state is E1cB-like, rather than an E1cBirrev mechanism. Syn KIE values were higher than those for anti elimination for the esters as well as the thioesters. Experimental challenges to the synthesis of stereospecifically-deuterated β-tosyloxyesters are discussed.
