What is the major product of the reaction between 2-bromobutane and potassium te
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the major product of the reaction between 2-bromobutane and potassium tert-butoxide?
2-butene
1-butene
tert-butyl bromide
butane
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the major product of the reaction between 2-bromobutane and potassium tert-butoxide?
Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have 2-bromobutane, which is a molecule with a bromine atom attached to the second carbon of a four-carbon chain.
Step 2: Identify the base. Potassium tert-butoxide is a strong base that can promote elimination reactions.
Step 3: Understand the type of reaction. The reaction between 2-bromobutane and potassium tert-butoxide is an elimination reaction (E2).
Step 4: Determine the mechanism. In an E2 reaction, the base (potassium tert-butoxide) removes a hydrogen atom from a carbon adjacent to the carbon with the bromine atom, while the bromine leaves, forming a double bond.
Step 5: Identify the product. The removal of a hydrogen atom from the adjacent carbon and the leaving of the bromine atom results in the formation of 2-butene, which is an alkene.
