8-8-a - Organic Chemistry (Mcmurry)

Question

From what alkenes might the following alcohols have been prepared?

a) 

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a) The alkene used for preparing alcohol is,

Alcohols from alkenes

Alcohols can be prepared from alkenes by using oxymercuration-demercuration reactions. These electrophilic addition reactions are a two-step pathway for obtaining alcohol.

Preparation of alcohol from an alkene

a) The given alcohol can be prepared when 2-methylhex-2-ene or 2-methylhex-1-ene is treated with $\mathrm{Hg}{\left(\mathrm{OAc}\right)}_2$ , and water reacts with more substituted carbon. The proton transfer takes place, and at last, demercuration occurs via reduction.

                     Formation of alcohol as a product