The treatment of 2-pentanol with TsCl (tosyl chloride) in the presence of pyridine first converts the alcohol into a tosylate, which is a better leaving group. This reaction typically goes through an SN2 mechanism if the alkyl chain is primary or secondary, which in this case (2-pentanol) is secondary.
Once the tosylate is formed, it can react with methoxide (CH3O-) through an SN2 mechanism, leading to the substitution of the tosyl group with a methoxy group. This reaction results in the formation of 2-methoxypentane. Therefore, the correct answer is:
- A) 2-methoxypentane
Other options can be examined as follows:
- B) R-methoxypentane does not exist since it is not based on the possible product of the SN2 reaction.
- C) Cis-2-pentene and D) Trans-2-pentene would not form from these reactions, as there is no elimination step involved in the process described.
- E) 1-pentene is also not a product since the reaction does not lead to the formation of alkenes from alcohols without an elimination reaction.