Question

Question: Draw a stepwise mechanism for the following reaction and explain the stereochemistry of the product.

Short answer

Answer

Step-by-step solution

Step-by-Step SolutionStep 1: Epoxides

The organic compounds epoxides are examples of cyclic ethers and can be protonated with strong acids and can be converted into the compounds that contain -OH group.

Explanation

The given compound contains both an epoxide group and a -OH group. The epoxide reacts with the proton of the strong acid and then breaks its bond with the carbon atom and forms a carbocation intermediate.

The -OH group acts as a nucleophile, and it attacks on the carbocation intermediate from the backside. This is an example of an intramolecular ${\mathrm{S}}_{\mathrm{N}}2$reaction. Thus, inversion in stereochemistry can be observed.

Mechanism