tert-Butylbenzene reacts with 1-chloro-2-methylpropane in the presence of anhydrous AlCl ₃ . The major product in this reaction is:

Step-by-step solution

The reaction is a Friedel-Crafts alkylation. First, 1-chloro-2-methylpropane reacts with anhydrous AlCl₃ to form a primary carbocation, the isobutyl cation: (CH₃)₂CH-CH₂-Cl + AlCl₃ (CH₃)₂CH-CH₂^+ + AlCl₄^- This less stable primary carbocation undergoes a 1,2-hydride shift to form a more stable tertiary carbocation, the tert-butyl cation: (CH₃)₂CH-CH₂^+ (CH₃)₃C^+ The tert-butyl group on the starting material, tert-butylbenzene, is an ortho/para directing group. Due to severe steric hindrance caused by the bulky tert