Question

What happens when (CH₃)₃ C – OH is heated with Cu/573 K?

Write the chemical equation in support of your answer.

Answer 1

When a tertiary alcohol is heated with Copper at 573 K, due to absence of α-hydrogen atom dehydration reaction takes place and produce 2-methyl propene.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{....}\ce{CH3}\phantom{.................}\ce{CH3}\phantom{.}\\
\phantom{.}|\phantom{.....................}|\phantom{.}\\
\phantom{}\ce{CH3 - C - OH ->[Cu][573K] \underset{2-metyl propene}{CH3 - C = CH2}}\\
|\phantom{......................}\\
\ce{\underset{Tertiary Butanol}{CH3}}\phantom{...................}
\end{array}\]