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.