Identify the major product of the following reaction.

Step-by-step solution

The reaction is an acid-catalyzed dehydration of an alcohol proceeding via an E1 mechanism. Protonation of the hydroxyl group in 3,3-dimethylhexan-2-ol followed by the loss of a water molecule generates a secondary carbocation: CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-C(CH₃)₂-CH(OH)-CH₃ H^+ CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-C(CH₃)₂-CH^+-CH₃ A 1,2-methyl shift occurs from the adjacent quaternary carbon to form a more stable tertiary carbocation: CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-C(CH₃)₂-CH^+-CH₃ CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-C^+(CH₃)-CH(CH₃)₂ Elimination of a proton from this tertiary carbocation can yiel