Zaitsev's rule

proper noun

An empirical rule for predicting the favoured alkene product(s) in elimination reactions. The alkene formed in greatest amount is the one that corresponds to removal of the hydrogen from the β-carbon having the fewest hydrogen substituents.

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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Saytseff's rule

  1. chemistryAn empirical rule for predicting the favoured alkene product(s) in elimination reactions. The alkene formed in greatest amount is the one that corresponds to removal of the hydrogen from the β-carbon having the fewest hydrogen substituents.

Origin

Named after Russian chemist Alexander Zaitsev.

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Cite this entry
APA

Zaitsev's rule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Zaitsev's%20rule

MLA

“Zaitsev's rule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Zaitsev's%20rule. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Zaitsev's rule,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Zaitsev's%20rule.

Source: Zaitsev's rule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.