Identify the major product formed in the following reaction:

Step-by-step solution

The bulky tert-butyl group locks the cyclohexane ring into a chair conformation where it exclusively occupies the equatorial position to minimize steric strain. Assigning relative positions, let the carbon with the tert-butyl group be C4, the carbon with the carboxylic acid be C2, and the carbon with the bromine be C1. The tert-butyl group is on a wedge, indicating an up direction. For an up substituent to be equatorial at C4, the positions at the other carbons follow the alternating axial/equatorial pattern: C4(up