optimality of 2 as a coefficient in a continued fraction theorem
2 is optimal. Let $\alpha=[a,2,\beta]$, where $\beta$ is a (large) irrational, and let $p/q=[a,1]=(a+1)/1$. Then $p/q$ is not a convergent to $\alpha$, and $${p\over q}-\alpha={1\over2-{1\over \beta+1}}$$ which is ${1\over(2-\epsilon)q^2}$ since $q=1$.
More complicated examples can be constructed. I think this works, though I haven't done all the calculations. Let $\alpha=[a_0,a_1,\dots,a_n,m,2,\beta]$ with $m$ and $\beta$ large, let $p/q=[a_0,a_1,\dots,a_n,m,1]$. Then again $p/q$ is not a convergent to $\alpha$, while $$\left|{p\over q}-\alpha\right|={1\over(2-\epsilon)q^2}$$ for $m$ and $\beta$ sufficiently large.