Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Hofmann elimination: A reaction sequence in which an amine is subjected to exhaustive methylation, followed by E2 elimination of an alkylammonium cation leaving group with aqueous silver (I) oxide to form the least substituted alkene as the major product. The reaction follows Hofmann's rule.

									+
Amine starting material		Exhaustive methylation		Quaternary ammonium salt		E2 elimination		Monosubstituted alkene (Major product)		Disubstituted alkene (Minor product)

A typical Hofmann elimination reaction sequence.