Predict the major product of the reaction shown below.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The reaction involves the dehydration of 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol, which can undergo E1 or E2 mechanism. In this case, E1 is the most likely mechanism due to the formation of a tertiary carbocation intermediate. E1 mechanism involves the removal of a leaving group followed by the loss of a proton from the carbocation to give the alkene product. The best choice is 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene since it is the most substituted alkene possible from the starting material.

Predict the Major Product of the Reaction Shown Below