question_answer

Formation of alcohol by oxymercuration- demercuration of alkenes

A) involves carbocations and rearrangement

B) involves carbanions and retoangement

C) is stereospecific

D) does not involve rearrangement and carbocation  

Correct Answer: D

Solution :

Oxymercuration - demercuration of alkenes involves following steps: (i) Dissociation of mercury (II) acetate \[(n+l)\] \[\begin{align}   & n=2,l=1<n=3,l=0<n=4,l=0 \\  & (n+1=3)\,\,\,\,\,\,\,(n+l=3)\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,(n+l=4) \\ \end{align}\] (ii) Attack of electrophile on double bond of alkene (iii) Addition of water  (iv) Reduction of \[<n=3,l=2\] bond Hence, oxymercuration-demercuration process involves, reduction and bridged mercurinium ion formation.