To determine the major product formed by the reaction of HI (Hydroiodic acid) with the given organic compound, we need to consider the mechanism of the reaction.
HI is a strong acid and an excellent source of the nucleophile, the iodide ion (I-). The reaction of HI with an ether typically involves the cleavage of the C-O bond, following a nucleophilic substitution pathway.
The reaction begins with the protonation of the ether oxygen by the hydrogen ion (H+) from HI, increasing the electrophilic character of the carbon atom attached to the oxygen, due to the formation of a better leaving group (water or an alcohol).
The iodide ion (I-), being a good nucleophile, attacks this electrophilic carbon atom, causing the departure of the alcohol group as a leaving group and forming an alkyl iodide as a major product.
Now, we look at the given options to identify which compound might be formed as a major product.
This structure represents a major alkyl iodide product of the ether cleavage due to the considerations of carbocation stability and the nucleophilic substitution process.
The other structures do not conform to expectations based on HI reaction mechanism, primarily because an ether with a more stable carbocation intermediate tends to be a better substrate for the HI cleavage reaction.
Thus, the correct product is the one in which the ether (compound shown in option below) is cleaved to provide the most stable resultant carbocation, leading to the formation of the major product – an alkyl iodide.
Therefore, the correct answer is that the major product after the reaction with HI is the compound given in the correct answer option (figure), highlighting the successful carbocation formation and iodide substitution.
