On the elimination of methanol from steroisomeric arylcyclohexyl methyl ethers under electron impact

The elimination of methanol from 3- and 4-arylcyclohexyl methyl ethers under electron impact exhibits stereoselectivity, which is similar to that found for the elimination of H2O from the corresponding arylcyclohexanols. The two eliminations also exhibit a similar substituent effect correlation. The similarity holds in the site specificity of these processes only for the trans-isomers. The cis-ethers undergo elimination of methanol by a mechanism which is different from that for the elimination of H2O from the cis-alcohols. (author)