Question

What is the principal organic by-product for each of these reactions? (nucleophilic substitution reactions lab with 1-butanol and 2-methyl-2-propanol)

Answer 1

Alcohols are weak nucleophile that react with strongs electrophiles like carbocations. alcohols reacts with nucleophiles and to form ethers. In general, alcohols are more reactive if attack like an alkoxyde.

General reactions are:

In your case, products will have:

1) when 1-butanol is reactant: RED parenthesis is carbon chain of electrophile (other reactant)

2) when 2-methyl-2-propanol is reactant: RED parenthesis is carbon chain of electrophile (other reactant)

In general, products will be ethers! but information that you give is uncomplete, because only talk about alcohol like reactants!! It was a pleasure!