An exception to what we have just said has to do with syntheses of unsymmetrical ethers in which one alkyl group is a tert-butyl group and the other group is primary. For example, this synthesis can be accomplished by adding tert-butyl alcohol to a mixture of the primary alcohol and H2SO4 at room temperature.

Give a likely mechanism for this reaction and explain why it is successful.

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cat. H2SO +H2O R OH R O