
Which is the main product of the following reaction?
A.
B.
C.
D.





Answer
496.8k+ views
Hint: The given substrate is an alkyl halide and the halide is attached to a secondary carbon atom. The base used is potassium t-butoxide which is a very strong base for proton abstraction.
Complete step by step answer:
When secondary alkyl halides attached to two different adjacent groups are treated with a strong base two products are possible. One is the Saytzeff product and the other is the Hofmann product.
The reaction conditions and the bulk of the reagents and substrate are responsible for the formation of the most favored product. In general the product formed by following Saytzeff’s rule is thermodynamically more stable as the olefin formed by elimination is highly substituted. For the given substrate the following olefin is the Saytzeff product.
The double bond is attached to three methyl substituents and has more number of hyperconjugable hydrogen atoms.
However in case of steric interaction between the substrate and the bulk of the reagent, Hofmann product becomes favorable.
For the given substrate, the base used for elimination is potassium t-butoxide which is a bulky base. It will experience steric interaction with the methyl group present at the position. So the base will mostly abstract the proton present at the position and lead to the formation of the Hofmann product. The product formed by abstracting the proton product will be minor. The mechanism of elimination can be shown as:
Thus the main product of the reaction is -methylbut- -ene, i.e. option D is the correct answer.
Note:
The minor product can be favored by changing the base used for the reaction. If a smaller base like sodium methoxide is used it will abstract the proton more than the proton and then the Saytzeff product will be major and Hofmann product will be minor.
Complete step by step answer:
When secondary alkyl halides attached to two different adjacent
The reaction conditions and the bulk of the reagents and substrate are responsible for the formation of the most favored product. In general the product formed by following Saytzeff’s rule is thermodynamically more stable as the olefin formed by elimination is highly substituted. For the given substrate the following olefin is the Saytzeff product.

The double bond is attached to three methyl substituents and has more number of hyperconjugable hydrogen atoms.
However in case of steric interaction between the substrate and the bulk of the reagent, Hofmann product becomes favorable.
For the given substrate, the base used for elimination is potassium t-butoxide which is a bulky base. It will experience steric interaction with the methyl group present at the

Thus the main product of the reaction is
Note:
The minor product can be favored by changing the base used for the reaction. If a smaller base like sodium methoxide is used it will abstract the
Latest Vedantu courses for you
Grade 11 Science PCM | CBSE | SCHOOL | English
CBSE (2025-26)
School Full course for CBSE students
₹41,848 per year
Recently Updated Pages
Earth rotates from West to east ATrue BFalse class 6 social science CBSE

The easternmost longitude of India is A 97circ 25E class 6 social science CBSE

Write the given sentence in the passive voice Ann cant class 6 CBSE

Convert 1 foot into meters A030 meter B03048 meter-class-6-maths-CBSE

What is the LCM of 30 and 40 class 6 maths CBSE

What is history A The science that tries to understand class 6 social science CBSE

Trending doubts
Father of Indian ecology is a Prof R Misra b GS Puri class 12 biology CBSE

Who is considered as the Father of Ecology in India class 12 biology CBSE

Enzymes with heme as prosthetic group are a Catalase class 12 biology CBSE

A deep narrow valley with steep sides formed as a result class 12 biology CBSE

An example of ex situ conservation is a Sacred grove class 12 biology CBSE

Why is insulin not administered orally to a diabetic class 12 biology CBSE
