Non-Markovnikov hydration

Methyl-2-hexcne has a disubstituted double bond, RCH=CHR, and would probably give a mixture of two alcohols with either hydration method since Markovnikov s rule does not apply to symmetrically substituted alkenes. 3-MethyI-3-hexene, however, has a trisubstituted double bond, and would give only the desired product on non-Markovnikov hydration using the hydroboration/oxidation method. 

Alcohols can be prepared by hydration of alkenes. Because the direct hydration of alkenes with aqueous acid is generally a poor reaction in the laboratory, two indirect methods are commonly used. Hydroboration/oxiclation yields the product of syn, non-Markovnikov hydration (Section 7.5), whereas... 

Non-Markovnikov hydration of an alkene can be achieved by hydroboration- Problems 6.9, 6.37, 6.38, oxidation, because the key step in this reaction sequence involves a four- -44, 6.45 membered transition state featuring syn addition, not a carbocation intermediate. 

Hydration of an alkene—the addition of water—is carried out by either of two procedures, depending on the product desired. Oxymercuration involves electrophilic addition of Hg2+ to an alkene, followed by trapping of the cation intermediate with water and subsequent treatment with NaBH4. Hydroboration involves addition of borane (BH3) followed by oxidation of the intermediate organoborane with alkaline H202- The two hydration methods are complementary oxymercuration gives the product of Markovnikov addition, whereas hydroboration/oxidation gives the product with non-Markovnikov syn stereochemistry. 

Like alkenes (Sections 7.4 and 7.5), alkynes can be hydrated by either of two methods. Direct addition of water catalyzed by mercury(II) ion yields the Markovnikov product, and indirect addition of water by a hydroboration/ oxidation sequence yields the non-Markovnikov product. 

Strategy What is an immediate precursor of a primary alcohol " Perhaps a terminal alkene, which could be hydrated with non-Markovnikov regiochemistiy by reaction with borane Followed by oxidation with H2O2-... 

When predicting the product of a reaction, you have to recall what you know about the kind of reaction being carried out and then apply that knowledge to the specific case you re dealing with. In the present instance, recall that the two methods of hydration—hydroboration/oxidation and oxymercura-tion—give complementary products. Hydroboration/oxidation occurs with syn stereochemi. itiy and gives the non-Markovnikov addition product oxymercuration gives the Markovnikov product. 

Hydration of an alkene—the addition of water—is carried out in the laboratory by either of two complementary procedures, depending on the product desired. Oxymercuration gives the product of Markovnikov addition, whereas hydrohoration/oxidation gives the product with non-Markovnikov syn stereochemistry. 

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