Chemical Reaction Fun: Making t-Butyl Chloride!
What is the minor product of the reaction?
1. t-butyl carbocation
2. t-butyl chloride
3. H2O
The minor product of the reaction is:
1. t-butyl carbocation
In the reaction, t-butyl alcohol is protonated by HCl to form a t-butyl carbocation and a hydronium ion. The carbocation is then attacked by a chloride ion, which substitutes the leaving group (a water molecule) to form t-butyl chloride as the major product. However, a small amount of t-butyl carbocation can also react with a chloride ion to form a bis-chloride product as a minor product. Since carbocations are highly reactive intermediates, they can undergo multiple reactions leading to the formation of various products, including rearranged products or side reactions.