Rearrangement Prins reaction

In the presence of strong acids such as aqueous H2SO4, carbonyl compounds may react with olefins to form unsaturated alcohols and other products, depending on the reaction conditions. Using H-mordenite as catalyst in a continuous-flow system, 10% conversion of formaldehyde to isoprene was observed at 300° using an isobutylene-to-HCHO (molar) ratio of 3.7. A carbonium ion-type reaction scheme, involving a Prins reaction (1,2) and a subsequent dehydration-rearrangement step... 

The initial reaction is a Prins reaction, catalysed by the boron trifluoride complex. In order to achieve maximum overlap of the -orbitals of the olefin and aldehyde groups, the aldehyde must approach the olefin from below, as will easily be seen using molecular models. This means that the resultant alcohol function is located on the downward side of the molecule as shown in Figure S21. A 1,2-carbon shift followed by a transannular bond formation with concomitant loss of a proton, provides the skeletal rearrangement to the product. It may not be too obvious in the figure, but an experiment with molecular models will soon... 

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