Give the products expected when the following tertiary amines are treated with a peroxyacid and heated.
(b) N,N-diethylhexan-2-amine

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reaction type: The reaction involves a tertiary amine being treated with a peroxyacid. This is a Cope elimination reaction, where the tertiary amine is oxidized to an amine oxide, followed by elimination to form an alkene.
2. Oxidation step: The tertiary amine, N,N-diethylhexan-2-amine, reacts with the peroxyacid to form the corresponding amine oxide. The structure of the amine oxide will have an oxygen atom bonded to the nitrogen atom, creating a positively charged nitrogen and a negatively charged oxygen.
3. Analyze the structure of the amine oxide: The amine oxide will have a β-hydrogen (a hydrogen atom on the carbon adjacent to the carbon bonded to the nitrogen). This β-hydrogen is crucial for the elimination step.
4. Elimination step: Upon heating, the amine oxide undergoes a syn-elimination (both the β-hydrogen and the leaving group are eliminated from the same side of the molecule). This results in the formation of an alkene. Identify the β-hydrogens in the structure and determine the possible alkenes that can form.
5. Determine the major product: Based on Zaitsev's rule, the more substituted alkene is typically the major product. Analyze the possible alkenes formed and identify the one with the highest degree of substitution as the major product.

Key Concepts

Tertiary Amines

Tertiary amines are organic compounds that contain a nitrogen atom bonded to three carbon-containing groups. They are characterized by their ability to act as nucleophiles due to the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen. In reactions, tertiary amines can undergo various transformations, including oxidation, which is relevant when treated with peroxyacids.

Peroxyacids

Peroxyacids are organic compounds that contain a peroxy group (-O-O-) bonded to a carbon atom. They are strong oxidizing agents and can facilitate the oxidation of amines to form N-oxides. When tertiary amines react with peroxyacids, they can lead to the formation of N-oxide products, which are important in various organic synthesis processes.

Oxidation Reactions

Oxidation reactions involve the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a molecule. In the context of tertiary amines and peroxyacids, the oxidation process typically results in the formation of N-oxides. Understanding the mechanism of these reactions is crucial for predicting the products formed when tertiary amines are treated with oxidizing agents.