Chapter 19: Problem 74
Which of the following will convert \(\mathrm{HC}=\mathrm{CCH}_{2} \mathrm{CH}_{3}\) to \(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{COCH}_{2} \mathrm{CH}_{3} ?\) (1) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} / \mathrm{H}\) (2) \(\mathrm{Hg}^{21} / \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) (3) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) (conc) \(/ \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{PO}_{4}\) (4) \(\mathrm{K}_{2} \mathrm{Cr}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{7} / \mathrm{KMnO}_{4}\)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
organic chemistry
One important class of compounds in organic chemistry is alkynes, which contain a carbon-carbon triple bond. Alkynes exhibit unique reactivity due to the triple bond, which can be manipulated to create various products. In this exercise, we are focusing on the transformation of a specific alkyne into a ketone.
Understanding how to manipulate alkyne structures is crucial in organic synthesis, which is used to construct complex molecules in pharmaceuticals, materials science, and more. Mastery of these transformations is a key aspect of advanced organic chemistry.
hydration of alkynes
The hydration of alkynes generally follows Markovnikov's rule, which states that the hydrogen atom from the water molecule will attach to the carbon atom with more hydrogen atoms already attached, while the hydroxyl group (OH) will attach to the carbon atom with fewer hydrogen atoms. This ensures the formation of a more stable carbocation intermediate.
However, due to the triple bond structure, the hydration of alkynes often results in the formation of a ketone instead of an alcohol. This happens through a process where the initial enol (a molecule with a double bond and an alcohol group) tautomerizes to form a ketone, which is a more stable structure.
ketone synthesis
In our specific problem, we are converting an alkyne into a ketone. The general approach involves hydration, where we add water across the alkyne's triple bond. This requires an acidic environment and a catalyst to proceed efficiently. The keto-enol tautomerization that follows is a natural process where the less stable enol form (an alcohol attached to a double-bond) rearranges into the ketone, which is thermodynamically favored.
Ketones have distinctive properties making them useful as solvents and intermediates for further chemical reactions. Understanding ketone synthesis is hence a foundational skill in organic chemistry, underpinning the development of many complex molecules.
mercuric sulfate catalysis
In the presence of sulfuric acid (Hâ‚‚SOâ‚„), mercuric sulfate helps form a reactive intermediate that enables the Markovnikov addition of water. This catalysis results in the production of an enol, which rapidly tautomerizes to form a ketone.
Mercuric sulfate catalysis is particularly useful because it allows for a controlled and selective hydration, preventing side reactions and ensuring the desired product formation. Without this catalyst, the reaction may not proceed efficiently or at all.
Understanding the role of this catalyst in organic reactions is essential for designing synthetic pathways and achieving the desired transformations in a laboratory setting.