Which of the following compounds will yield the Zaitsev (Saytzeff) alkene as the major product in an E 2 elimination reaction with an unhindered base (such as sodium ethoxide)?

Step-by-step solution

In an E 2 elimination reaction, the regioselectivity (Zaitsev vs. Hofmann product) depends significantly on the nature of the leaving group and the steric bulk of the base. With an unhindered base like sodium ethoxide ( EtO^- ), the major product is determined by the leaving group: 1. Good leaving groups (such as - Br , - Cl , - I ) result in a transition state with significant double-bond character. This leads to the formation of the more substituted, more stable alkene as the major product, following Zaitsev's ru