Question

What organic products would be formed from the reaction of 1-bromo-2-methylpropane (isobutyl bromide), (ch3)2chch2br, with ch3o-, ch3oh?

Answer 1

The reaction of 1-bromo-2-methylpropane with CH3O- would form 2-methylpropyl methyl ether, and with CH3OH it would form 2-methylpropanol.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction of 1-bromo-2-methylpropane (isobutyl bromide) with CH3O- would result in the formation of 2-methylpropyl methyl ether, (CH3)2CHCH2OCH3. This is an example of an ether, which is an organic compound that has an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups.

The reaction of 1-bromo-2-methylpropane with CH3OH would result in the formation of 2-methylpropanol, (CH3)2CHCH2OH. This is an example of an alcohol, which is an organic compound that has a hydroxyl (-OH) group bonded to a saturated carbon atom.

Answer 2

Primary alkyl halide are those in which halogen is attached to that carbon which is attached to only one other carbon. Primary alkyl halides usually undergo
`S_N2` (bimolecular nucleophilic substitution) mechanism (in which nucleophiles attack from the backward direction) and rarely
`E2` (bimolecular elimination) mechanisms.

1-bromo-2-methylpropane (isobutyl bromide),
`(CH_3)_2CHCH_2Br` is a primary alkyl halide which on reacting with strong base, both products are formed from
`S_N2` and
`E2` mechanism. As methoxide ion is a good nucleophile formed from the strong base methanol. The reaction is shown in the image.

The products formed are 1-methoxy-2-methylpropane (from
`S_N2` mechanism) and 2-methylpropene (from
`E2` mechanism).