Identify the correct order of reactivity of the following compounds towards E 2 elimination with alcoholic KOH : (I) (II) (III)

Step-by-step solution

In an E 2 elimination reaction, the process is concerted, meaning the abstraction of the -proton by the base and the departure of the leaving group occur simultaneously in the rate-determining step. The rate of the reaction depends significantly on the strength of the carbon-hydrogen (or its isotopes) bond being broken. The bond dissociation energy of carbon-isotope bonds follows the order: C-T > C-D > C-H . Because the C-H bond is the weakest, it is broken most easily and rapidly. This phenomenon is known as the p