The given reaction is an acid-catalyzed dehydration of alcohol to form an alkene. Let's find out the major product step-by-step:
Formation of Carbocation:
The reaction begins with the protonation of the hydroxyl group (-OH) of the alcohol using H_3O^+.
This protonation turns the -OH into a better leaving group, forming water, which subsequently leaves to generate a carbocation intermediate.
Carbocation Stability and Rearrangement:
The initial carbocation can undergo rearrangement if it leads to a more stable carbocation. In this structure, a hydride shift occurs enhancing stability.
The carbocation can shift to form the more stable tertiary carbocation.
Elimination to Form Alkene:
The most stable alkene is formed by removing a β-hydrogen adjacent to the carbocation.
This elimination leads to the formation of the alkene.
The major product is determined by Zaitsev's rule, which states that the more substituted alkene is favored:
Thus, the correct answer is the product shown in the above image.
