A series of structurally related alcohols of the general formula RCH~ CHOHCH~ CHZ were pyrolyzed oia their xanthate (Chugaev reaction) and acetate esters. The R group was made to vary systematically from methyl to ethyl, isopropyl and t-butyl. The relative amount of each was determined by vapor phase chromatography. It was found that as R varied from methyl to t-butyl, the relative proportion of that olefin isomer which contained the double bond ...
