A tertiary butyl carbocation () is found to be exceptionally more stable than a secondary butyl carb — GOC and Organic Chemistry Basics Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The tertiary butyl carbocation is flanked by three methyl groups, providing a total of 9 $\alpha$ -hydrogens. These C-H $\sigma$ bonds can effectively overlap with the empty p-orbital of the positively charged carbon, drastically stabilizing the intermediate via hyperconjugation. A secondary butyl carbocation has fewer (typically 5) $\alpha$ -hydrogens, offering less hyperconjugative stabilization.