Questions: What major product(s) will be yielded by the elimination reaction shown? Consider that the reagent is optically pure.

Transcript text: What major product(s) will be yielded by the elimination reaction shown? Consider that the reagent is optically pure.

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Reaction Type

The reaction involves an elimination process, specifically an E2 elimination, where a base (methoxide ion, OMe-) abstracts a proton from the β-carbon, leading to the formation of a double bond and the expulsion of the leaving group (Cl).

Step 2: Determine the β-Hydrogens

Identify the β-hydrogens relative to the carbon bearing the leaving group (Cl). In this case, the β-hydrogens are on the adjacent carbon atoms to the carbon with the Cl group.

Step 3: Apply Zaitsev's Rule

Zaitsev's rule states that the more substituted alkene will be the major product. Therefore, the elimination will favor the formation of the more substituted double bond.