Past exam of the chemistry course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / Paper 1 / 3 / c / ii

Methyl addition gives 1-methylcyclohexanol, whose acid-catalysed dehydration yields the shown 1-methylcyclohexene. The methyl end of methyllithium attacks the cyclohexanone carbonyl carbon, and the C=O pi electrons move onto oxygen, giving a lithium alkoxide. Protonation gives the tertiary alcohol.

Protonate OH to make $\mathrm{O}{\mathrm{H}}_2^{+}$, then cleave its C–O bond with both electrons going to departing water. A base removes a beta hydrogen from either adjacent ring methylene, and that C–H pair forms the C=C bond to the tertiary cationic centre. This E1 elimination regenerates the acid catalyst. The two adjacent ring positions are equivalent, and the displayed endocyclic alkene is more substituted than the possible exocyclic methylene alternative.