Give the best description of the regioselectivity and stereospecificity in the oxymercuration of an alkene.
A) Markovnikov orientation with syn-addition
B) Markovnikov orientation with anti-addition
C) anti-Markovnikov orientation with syn-addition
D) anti-Markovnikov orientation with anti-addition
E) Markovnikov orientation with both syn- and anti-addition

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oxymercuration of an alkene follows Markovnikov orientation, where the more electronegative atom (usually from water in this reaction) attaches to the more substituted carbon. The addition is anti, meaning the two parts of the adding molecule attach on opposite sides of the double bond plane.

Give the Best Description of the Regioselectivity and Stereospecificity in the Oxymercuration