JEE Main · 2026 · 06 Apr 2026 · Shift 1 · Alcohols Phenols and Ethers

Passed over copper at $573\mathrm{K}$ a tertiary alcohol cannot be dehydrogenated to a carbonyl and instead dehydrates, so $\text{tert}$-butyl alcohol gives 2-methylpropene, $(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3{)}_2\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_2$. In the acidic second step the alkene is protonated at the terminal carbon to form the tertiary carbocation $(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3{)}_3{\mathrm{C}}^{+}$, which is captured by benzoic acid to give the ester $\text{tert}$-butyl benzoate, ${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{COO}-\mathrm{C}(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3{)}_3$.

The major product P is $\text{tert}$-butyl benzoate.