Question

2-methyl-2-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. You do not have to consider stereochemistry.

Answer 1

The alkene that would be used to prepare 2-methyl-2-hexanol in highest yield is 2-methylpropene (CH2=C(CH3)2).

Step-by-step explanation:

The alkene that would be used to prepare 2-methyl-2-hexanol in highest yield can be determined by analyzing the structures of other alcohols shown as examples. Since we are trying to obtain a 2-methyl group in the final alcohol, we need an alkene with a 2-methyl group. One possible alkene is 2-methylpropene (CH2=C(CH3)2), where the hydroboration-oxidation or oxymercuration-reduction can take place to produce 2-methyl-2-hexanol with the highest yield.