Question

4-methyl-3-hexanol was prepared by reacting an alkene with either hydroboration-oxidation or oxymercuration-reduction. Draw the structure of the alkene that was used to prepare the alcohol in highest yield.

Answer 1

Answer:

Structure in attachment.

Explanation:

The oxymercuration-demercuration of an asymmetric alkene usually produces the  Markovnikov orientation of an addition. The electrophile ⁺Hg(OAc), formed by the electrophile attack of the mercury ion, remains attached to least substituted group at the end of the double bond. This electrophile has a considerable amount of positive charge on its two  carbon atoms, but there is more positive charge on the more substituted carbon atom,  where it is more stable. The water attack occurs on this more electrophilic carbon, and the Markovnikov orientation occurs.

In hydroboration, borane adds to the double bond in one step. Boron is added to the less  hindered and less substituted carbon, and hydrogen is added to the more substituted carbon. The electrophilic boron atom adds to the less substituted end of the double bond, positioning the positive charge (and the hydrogen atom) at the more substituted end. The result is a product with the anti-Markovnikov orientation.