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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3ap133

Which combination gives ethyl isopropyl ether (2-ethoxypropane) in the best yield?

  1. Asodium ethoxide with propan-2-ol
  2. Bbromoethane with propan-2-ol in neutral solution at room temperature
  3. Csodium propan-2-oxide with bromoethane
  4. Dsodium ethoxide with 2-bromopropane

Answer: C

The better substrate for SN2 is the primary halide. Sodium propan-2-oxide with bromoethane gives the ether, while sodium ethoxide with the secondary 2-bromopropane gives mainly propene by E2. Neutral alcohol is not nucleophilic enough, and two alcohol nucleophiles do not react.
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