The C2 molecule (1, 2-ethynediyl) has been prepared by dehydrohalogenation of 1, 2- dibromoethylene with an excess of potassium tert-butoxide in 2, 3-dimethyl-2-butene as the solvent and the reagent. The major products of this reaction were 2, 3-dimethylbut-3-en-2-ol and dibromoacetylene.