Question

When 3-iodo-3-ethylpentane is heated in methanol, the major organic product is an __________________ that is generated through a(n) __________________ mechanism.

Answer 1

Ether

SN1 mechanism

Step-by-step explanation:

The nucleophile in this reaction is CH3OH. It is a poor nucleopile. We already know that a poor nucleophile reacting with a tertiary alkyl halide often leads to the substitution product as the major product.

Also, the iodide ion is a good leaving group. This makes the SN1 substitution more likely yielding the ether as the major product as shown in the image attached.