Total number of alkenes obtained by dehydration of 3,4-diethylhexan-2-ol in acidic medium ?

Explanation

To determine the total number of alkenes obtained by the dehydration of 3,4-diethylhexan-2-ol in acidic medium, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Draw the Structure of 3,4-Diethylhexan-2-ol
- The compound is a hexane derivative with two ethyl groups at the 3rd and 4th carbon positions and a hydroxyl (-OH) group at the 2nd carbon.
- The structure can be represented as follows:

```
CH2CH3
|
CH3-CH-CH-CH-CH2-CH3
|
OH
```

### Step 2: Identify the Protonation of the Alcohol
- In acidic medium, the hydroxyl group (-OH) will be protonated to form a better leaving group, resulting in the formation of oxonium ion (OH2+).
- The structure after protonation will look like this:

```
CH2CH3
|
CH3-CH-CH-CH-CH2-CH3
|
OH2+
```

### Step 3: Identify the Possible Eliminations
- The protonated alcohol can undergo elimination (dehydration) to form alkenes.
- The elimination can occur via the loss of a water molecule (H2O) from the oxonium ion, leading to the formation of double bonds.

### Step 4: Determine the Possible Alkenes
- The elimination can occur in two different ways, leading to the formation of two distinct alkenes:
1. **First Alkene**: Elimination of an axial hydrogen from the 3rd carbon and the hydroxyl group from the 2nd carbon.
2. **Second Alkene**: Elimination of an axial hydrogen from the 4th carbon and the hydroxyl group from the 2nd carbon.

### Step 5: Draw the Alkenes
- **First Alkene**:
```
CH2CH3
|
CH3-CH=CH-CH-CH2-CH3
```
- **Second Alkene**:
```
CH2CH3
|
CH3-CH-CH=CH-CH2-CH3
```

### Step 6: Count the Total Number of Alkenes
- From the dehydration of 3,4-diethylhexan-2-ol, we can obtain **two distinct alkenes**.

### Conclusion
- The total number of alkenes obtained by the dehydration of 3,4-diethylhexan-2-ol in acidic medium is **2**.

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