Number of Major Products in the Reaction of Trans-3,4-Dimethyl-3-Heptene and HCl

[Queequeg]

Homework Statement

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What is the number of major products of a reaction of trans-3,4-dimethyl-3-heptene and HCl?

Homework Equations

Once H adds, the chloride ion can attack the carbocation from the top or bottom.

The Attempt at a Solution

Once the carbocation forms, the carbon that forms the chiral center due to the addition of H+ will become a chiral center and the ethyl and propyl groups (attached to each double bond carbon) will be a source of hindrance for the attacking chloride ion, so only 4 isomers will be the major products and the other 4 will be minor due to steric hindrance.

Professor said the answer was 8 because those groups are not long enough to cause hindrance to the attacking chloride ion, which I understand, but still answered 4 because of the term "major" product in the question.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Thanks for the post! Sorry you aren't generating responses at the moment. Do you have any further information, come to any new conclusions or is it possible to reword the post?