The major product which results when 2-chloro-2-methylpentane is heated in ethanol is an ether. What is the mechanism by which this ether forms?

The general response is

There won't be any changes made as the carbocation is already at a 3° angle.

THE SYSTEM

Step 2: Ethanol's nucleophilic attack

Step 3: Oxonium ion deprotonation

The formation of ether from 2-chloro-2-methylpentane in ethanol typically proceeds via an SN1 (substitution nucleophilic unimolecular) mechanism. In this mechanism, the chlorine atom of 2-chloro-2-methylpentane is displaced by ethanol, leading to the formation of a carbocation intermediate. Subsequently, ethanol acts as a nucleophile, attacking the carbocation to form a new bond and produce the ether product. This process involves a two-step reaction: first, the formation of a carbocation intermediate, and second, the nucleophilic attack by ethanol to form the ether.

The mechanism by which the ether forms when 2-chloro-2-methylpentane is heated in ethanol involves the nucleophilic substitution reaction. In this process, ethanol acts as a nucleophile attacking the carbon atom adjacent to the chlorine atom in 2-chloro-2-methylpentane. This attack displaces the chloride ion, leading to the formation of an intermediate carbocation. Subsequently, another ethanol molecule acts as a nucleophile, attacking the carbocation to form the desired ether product.