Question

When an alkene reacts with a peracid, the product is (1) alkane (2) alkyne (3) epoxide (4) none of these

Short answer

The product is (3) epoxide.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Reaction

The reaction involves an alkene and a peracid (also known as a peroxy acid). It's important to know what type of reaction this is and what it typically produces.

Identify the Reaction Type

An alkene reacts with a peracid typically in an oxidation reaction known as epoxidation.

Determine the Product

In an epoxidation reaction, the alkene is converted into an epoxide. This involves the addition of an oxygen atom across the carbon-carbon double bond.

Conclusion

Based on the reaction type and the nature of the product, the resulting compound when an alkene reacts with a peracid is an epoxide.

Key concepts

alkene reactions

Alkenes are organic compounds characterized by having at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C). These double bonds are regions of high electron density, making alkenes very reactive.
In chemical reactions, alkenes can undergo a variety of transformations including hydrogenation, halogenation, and oxidation. One interesting aspect of alkene reactions is their ability to add different groups across the double bond.
This process, known as addition reactions, results in the breaking of the double bond and the formation of new single bonds.

- Common addition reactions include hydration (adding water), halogenation (adding halogens), and hydrohalogenation (adding hydrogen halides).
- Epoxidation is a specific type of oxidation reaction where an oxygen atom is added across the double bond, converting the alkene into an epoxide.
- Understanding the reactivity of alkenes helps us predict the products of their reactions.

peracid

Peracids, also known as peroxy acids, are a special type of acid containing an extra oxygen atom compared to regular carboxylic acids.
This extra oxygen makes peracids stronger oxidizing agents. The general structure of a peracid includes an -OOH group, attached to a carbonyl group.
Peracids are powerful and can transfer their extra oxygen atom to other molecules, making them very useful in oxidation reactions.
In the context of alkene reactions, peracids are used to create epoxides.

Peracids commonly used in epoxidation include:
- m-Chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA)
- Peracetic acid
- Trifluoroperacetic acid

The choice of peracid can influence the rate and selectivity of the oxidation reaction. Understanding the nature of peracids is essential for controlling and predicting the outcomes of such reactions.

epoxides

Epoxides are three-membered cyclic ethers, characterized by an oxygen atom connected to two carbon atoms.
They are formed through the addition of an oxygen atom to the double bond of an alkene in a process known as epoxidation.
Because of the ring strain in the three-membered ring, epoxides are highly reactive intermediates that can undergo a variety of further reactions.

Epoxides have several key properties:
- They are useful building blocks in organic synthesis.
- They can be opened by nucleophiles, leading to the formation of a range of different products depending on the nucleophile used.
- Their reactivity makes them useful in the production of polymers and pharmaceuticals.

Understanding the formation and reactivity of epoxides gives chemists powerful tools in synthetic chemistry.
Identifying the conditions and reagents required for epoxidation is key to utilizing these versatile compounds.

oxidation reactions

Oxidation reactions are a cornerstone of organic chemistry, involving the increase in oxidation state of a molecule.
This typically means adding oxygen or removing hydrogen from a molecule. In the case of alkene epoxidation:

- An oxygen atom is added across the double bond of the alkene.
- The alkene undergoes a transformation from a -C=C- bond to an -C-O-C- in the epoxide.
- Oxidation reactions like these are essential for forming new structures and functional groups.

Other common oxidation reactions include the formation of alcohols from alkenes and the oxidative cleavage of alkenes to form carbonyl compounds.
By understanding oxidation reactions, chemists can manipulate molecules to create desired products, which is fundamental in both laboratory and industrial settings.