Dehydration of 2-Methylcyclopentanol: Major Product and IUPAC Name

What will be the major organic product formed upon heating 2-methylcyclopentanol with H₂SO₄?

a) 2-Methylcyclopentene

b) 2-Methylcyclopentane

c) 3-Methylcyclopentene

d) 3-Methylcyclopentane

Final answer:

Final answer:

Upon heating 2-methylcyclopentanol with H₂SO₄, the major product is 1-methylcyclopentene.

Explanation:

The major organic product formed upon heating 2-methylcyclopentanol with H₂SO₄ is 1-methylcyclopentene. This reaction is a dehydration of an alcohol, where the -OH group and a hydrogen atom on the adjacent carbon atom are removed to form a double bond. The most stable alkene is typically formed, which is the one with the most substituents on the double bond, following Zaitsev's rule.

In this case, 1-methylcyclopentene is formed instead of 2-methylcyclopentene, because the double bond in 1-methylcyclopentene ends up being more substituted with two alkyl groups (methyl and ethyl) compared to the double bond in 2-methylcyclopentene which would only have two methyl groups.