In an experiment of the dehydrobromination of meso-stilbene dibromide to form an alkyne:
A. Why is ethylene glycol used as a solvent in this reaction?
1. It forms a stable complex with the dibromostilbene and activates it towards elimination.
2. It acts the nucleophile in the reaction and leads to formation of the product.
3. It has a high enough boiling point such that it will not evaporate under the elevated reaction temperature.
4. It is the only solvent capable of dissolving the reagents.