What is the Difference Between Saytzeff and Hofmann Rule?

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The Saytzeff rule and Hofmann rule are important in predicting the end product of an organic chemical reaction, specifically in elimination reactions involving tertiary amines and quaternary ammonium salts. The key difference between these two rules lies in the stability of the product formed:

  • Saytzeff rule: This rule indicates that the more substituted product is the most stable product. In elimination reactions involving tertiary amines, the majority of the product formed is the more substituted alkene.
  • Hofmann rule: This rule predicts that the least substituted product is the most stable product. In elimination reactions involving quaternary ammonium salts, the majority of the product formed is the least substituted alkene.

In summary, the Hofmann rule predicts the formation of the least substituted alkene in elimination reactions involving quaternary ammonium salts, while the Saytzeff rule predicts the formation of the more substituted alkene in elimination reactions involving tertiary amines.

Comparative Table: Saytzeff vs Hofmann Rule

The key difference between Saytzeff and Hofmann Rule lies in the stability of the products they predict. Here is a summary of their differences:

Saytzeff Rule (Zaitsev's Rule) Hofmann Rule
Most substituted product is the most stable Least substituted product is the most stable
Applies to elimination reactions with neutral leaving groups Applies to reactions with charged leaving groups, such as -NR3+ or -SR2+, and strong bases
Developed by Alexander Mikhailovich Zaitsev Developed by August Wilhelm von Hofmann

Both rules are used to predict the end product of an organic chemical reaction based on the substitution of the final alkene product. However, they apply to different types of reactions and predict different levels of stability for the products.