Predict the products of E1 elimination of the following compounds. Label the major products.
(a)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the substrate and the leaving group. The given compound is a cyclohexane ring with a bromine atom (Br) as the leaving group attached to a carbon that also has two methyl groups (CH3). Bromine is a good leaving group, making this compound suitable for E1 elimination.
2. Step 2: Understand the E1 elimination mechanism. E1 elimination occurs in two steps: (1) the leaving group departs, forming a carbocation intermediate, and (2) a proton is removed from a β-carbon (adjacent to the carbocation), leading to the formation of a double bond.
3. Step 3: Analyze the carbocation stability. When bromine leaves, the resulting carbocation is tertiary (attached to three carbon atoms), which is highly stable due to hyperconjugation and inductive effects. This stability favors the E1 mechanism.
4. Step 4: Determine the possible β-hydrogens for elimination. The β-carbons are the carbons adjacent to the carbocation. In this case, there are hydrogens on the β-carbons that can be eliminated to form double bonds. Consider the stereochemistry and regioselectivity to predict the major product.
5. Step 5: Apply Zaitsev's rule to predict the major product. Zaitsev's rule states that the most substituted alkene will be the major product. Elimination of a β-hydrogen from the more substituted β-carbon will result in the formation of the major product, which is the more stable alkene. Label the major product accordingly.

Key Concepts

E1 Elimination Mechanism

The E1 elimination mechanism involves two main steps: the formation of a carbocation intermediate after the leaving group departs, followed by the removal of a proton to form a double bond. This mechanism is favored in polar protic solvents and typically occurs with tertiary or some secondary substrates due to carbocation stability.

Carbocation Stability

Carbocation stability is crucial in determining the pathway of elimination reactions. Tertiary carbocations are more stable than secondary or primary ones due to hyperconjugation and inductive effects from surrounding alkyl groups. The stability influences the likelihood of the E1 mechanism occurring, as more stable carbocations are formed more readily.

Regioselectivity in Elimination Reactions

Regioselectivity refers to the preference for the formation of one constitutional isomer over others in a chemical reaction. In E1 eliminations, the major product is often the more substituted alkene, following Zaitsev's rule, which states that the more stable alkene (more substituted) is favored due to lower steric strain and greater hyperconjugation.