PrepRung

JEE Advanced 2023 Paper 1 · Chemistry · General Organic Chemistry and Isomerism · medium

Free-radical monochlorination of 2-methylbutane gives a mixture of monochloro products. The total number of distinct monochloro compounds formed…

Numerical answer

Free-radical monochlorination of 2-methylbutane gives a mixture of monochloro products. The total number of distinct monochloro compounds formed, counting each enantiomer as a separate compound, is
Show answer and solution

Answer: 6

2-Methylbutane, (CH3)2CH ⁣− ⁣CH2 ⁣− ⁣CH3\mathrm{(CH_3)_2CH\!-\!CH_2\!-\!CH_3}, has four sets of non-equivalent hydrogens, so four constitutional monochloro isomers are formed:
(i) 1-chloro-2-methylbutane (from the CH3\mathrm{CH_3} on C2\mathrm{C2} side; C2\mathrm{C2} is a stereocentre: 2 enantiomers);
(ii) 2-chloro-2-methylbutane (tertiary; no stereocentre: 1);
(iii) 2-chloro-3-methylbutane (from the CH2\mathrm{CH_2}; C2\mathrm{C2} and C3\mathrm{C3} - only C2\mathrm{C2} is a stereocentre: 2 enantiomers);
(iv) 1-chloro-3-methylbutane (from the terminal CH3\mathrm{CH_3} of the ethyl end; no stereocentre: 1). Total =2+1+2+1=6=2+1+2+1=6. Radical chlorination is not very selective but all positions react, so all six compounds are formed.
Report a mistake

Original question written in the JEE Advanced 2023 Paper 1 pattern and checked twice for the correct answer. Not an official question paper. How we write and check questions · Corrections policy · Report a mistake