Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Cope elimination (Cope reaction): A reaction in which an amine oxide undergoes intramolecular elimination producing an alkene and a hydroxylamine.

General form of the Cope elimination reaction.


In this example of the Cope elimination reaction, the starting amine is oxidized with hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) to give an amine oxide. Heating this amine oxide causes an intramolecular elimination reaction, producing methylenecyclohexane and N,N-dimethylhydroxylamine.