Question

Use your general knowledge of alkene chemistry to suggest a mechanism for the following reaction.

Short answer

Mechanism of the reaction is:

Fig

]No reactions included

Step-by-step solution

Alkenes

It is an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound. Alkenes are having double bonds between carbon atoms and the hybridization of carbon atoms having double bond is . Alkenes are also known as olefins. In an aliphatic chain the alkenes are defined as symmetrical alkenes and asymmetrical alkenes.

Example

Symmetrical alkenes are those alkenes which are having same number of carbon atoms on both the sides of double bond and asymmetrical alkenes are those which are having unequal number of carbon atoms on both the sides of double bond.

Step by Step Mechanism of the reaction

Step 1: Most substituted double bond will attack on mercury(II) acetate, cyclic mercurinium ion will form and OAC will release.

Step 2: In this step double bond will attack on the carbocation and another cyclic ring will form.

Step 3: OAC that was released in first step will now abstract the proton and the final product will form.

fig