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JEE Main levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 2 of 3o4266

The halide shown is allowed to solvolyse in an ethanol-water mixture with no added strong base. Select all correct statements.

  1. AThe rate-determining step is ionisation to a tertiary carbocation.
  2. BThe rate is independent of the concentration of the nucleophile.
  3. CBoth 2-methylbut-2-ene and 2-methylbut-1-ene can form by E1.
  4. DThe substitution product forms with complete inversion of configuration.

Answer: A, B, C

The compound is 2-chloro-2-methylbutane. A tertiary halide in a polar protic solvent without strong base reacts by SN1/E1, in which slow ionisation to the carbocation is rate-determining and the rate is first order in halide only. Loss of different protons gives both alkenes. Attack on the planar cation occurs from both faces, so inversion is not complete.
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