Question

What products are expected in the ethoxide promoted β - elimiation reaction of 1-chloro-1-methylcyclohexame. a) Methylcyclohexene and hydrochloric acid

b) Cyclohexene and methyl chloride
c) Methylcyclohexene and ethyl chloride
d) Cyclohexene and ethyl chloride

Answer 1

In the ethoxide promoted β-elimination reaction of 1-chloro-1-methylcyclohexane, methylcyclohexene and ethyl chloride are the expected products.

Step-by-step explanation:

The expected products in the ethoxide promoted β-elimination reaction of 1-chloro-1-methylcyclohexane using sodium ethoxide as a base are methylcyclohexene and ethyl chloride. The sodium ethoxide abstracts a proton (H+) from the carbon atom next to the carbon bearing the chlorine atom (the β-carbon), leading to the formation of a double bond in the ring system, resulting in methylcyclohexene. Concurrently, the leaving group (chlorine) is removed and combines with the sodium from the ethoxide, forming ethyl chloride. This process represents a unimolecular elimination reaction (E1 mechanism).