- Specific examples:
CH 3 (CH 2 ) 2 CH CH 2 Hg(OAc)^2
OAc
CH 3 (CH 2 ) 2 CH CH 2
Hg
NaBH 4
+
1-Pentene
2-Pentanol (93%)
THF- OH−
(1 h)
CH 3 (CH 2 ) 2 CH CH 2 Hg
H
(15s) OH
H 2 O
OH
C
CH 3
C
HO HO
H 2 O
CH 3
C
CH 3
1-Methylcyclo-
pentene
1-Methylcyclo-
pentanol
Hg Hg H
THF-
NaBH 4
OH−
(6 min)
+ Hg
(20s) HH
(OAc) (^2) OAc
- Rearrangements of the carbon skeleton seldom occur in oxymercuration-
demercuration.- Hg(OAc) 2 /THF-H 2 O
OH
CH 3 CCHCH (^2) 2. NaBH 4 , OH− CH 3 CCH
CH 3
CH 3 CH 3
CH 3
3,3-Dimethyl-1-butene 3,3-Dimethyl-2-butanol
(94%)
C
H
H
H
- 2,3-Dimethyl-2-butanol can not be detected by gas chromatography (GC)
analysis. - 2,3-Dimethyl-2-butanol is the major product in the acid-catalyzed hydration of
3,3-dimethyl-1-butene.
- Solvomercuration-demercuration:
CC NaBH^4 , OH−
CC
OR OR
Hg
CC
O 2 CCF 3 H
Alkene (Alkoxyalkyl)mercuric
trifluoroacetate
Hg
solvomercuration
Ether
demercuration
(O 2 CCF 3 ) 2 /THF-ROH