In this question I understand that 2 reactions- Substitution and elimination- will occur. But which will be major?
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$\begingroup$ I think you can immediately eliminate answer a and d. The conjuated alkene wil be preferentially formed. $\endgroup$ – Waylander Apr 25 '20 at 8:14
The answer is (b); majority elimination by an E2 mechanism.
Quoting from chem.libretext.org:
Acetylide anions are strong bases and strong nucleophiles[...] Secondary, tertiary or even bulky primary substrates will give elimination by the E2 mechanism.
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$\begingroup$ But how do u compare between its basicity and nycleophilicity ? $\endgroup$ – Aditya suresh Apr 25 '20 at 14:15
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3$\begingroup$ That is really rather difficult to compare because solvent effects, counter-ion and electrophile differences make very reaction different. Chemistry is complex! $\endgroup$ – Waylander Apr 25 '20 at 14:50