Question

Question: Draw the products formed when both cis- and trans-but-2-ene are treated with OsO₄, followed by hydrolysis with NaHSO₃+H₂O. Explain how these reactions illustrate that syndihydroxylation is stereospecific.

Short answer

Answer

Cis-2-butene

Trans-2-butene

Step-by-step solution

Syn-hydroxylation of alkene

When alkenes (olefins) are hydroxylated using OsO₄ , the products obtained are called syn-hydroxy alkanes

1,2-dihydroxy compounds are also known as glycols

Stereospecific reactions

The reaction is seen to be a stereospecific reaction because the stereochemistry of products depends on the stereochemistry of reactants used.

Stereo-chemically different products obtained due to different starting material

Cis-2-butene

Diastereomeric products

Trans-2-butene

Enantiomeric products