Question

Treatment of (2R,3R)-2,2-epoxy-3-methylpentane with aqueous acid results in a ring-opening reaction. Draw structural formulas for the first and second intermediates in this reaction.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

In an acid-catalyzed epoxide ring-opening reaction, there is a formation of two intermediate in the reaction. The first stage involves the protonation of oxygen in the epoxide. The stage is followed by the attraction of water molecules onto the more substituted carbon atom in the epoxide ring. The stepwise reaction mechanism can be seen in the image attached below.