Question

Draw the structural formulas for all alkenes that could be used to prepare the alcohol shown below by oxymercuration?

Answer 1

To prepare the alcohol CH3-O-CH2-CH2-CH3 by oxymercuration, the alkene 2-methylpropene can be used.

Step-by-step explanation:

The alcohol shown is CH3-O-CH2-CH2-CH3, which is 1-butanol. To prepare this alcohol by oxymercuration, we need an alkene that can react with an oxymercuration reagent to give 1-butanol as the product. The oxymercuration reaction adds an alcohol group to the alkene.

For example, 2-methylpropene can be used to prepare 1-butanol:

CH3-C(CH3)=CH2 + Hg(OAc)2 + H2O → CH3-C(CH2OH)-CH3

So, 2-methylpropene is an alkene that can be used to prepare 1-butanol by oxymercuration.