Question

The major product of the reaction between tert-butyl chloride and sodium ethoxide is ______.

Options

• 2-methyl prop-1-ene

• 1-butene

• 2-butene

• ethene

Answer 1

The major product of the reaction between tert-butyl chloride and sodium ethoxide is 2-methyl prop-1-ene.

Explanation:

• tert-butyl chloride is a tertiary alkyl halide:
  structure: \[\ce{(CH3)3C-Cl}\]
• Sodium ethoxide (NaOEt) is a strong base and a good nucleophile.
• Since tert-butyl chloride is sterically hindered, it undergoes elimination (E2) reaction rather than substitution (SN2).
• In the E2 mechanism, the base abstracts a β-hydrogen, leading to the formation of a double bond.

So, the reaction proceeds as:

\[\ce{(CH3)3C-Cl + NaOEt ->(CH3)2C=CH2 + NaCl + EtOH}\]

2-methylprop-1-ene is formed (also known as isobutylene).