What would be the major product(s)of the following reaction?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The starting material is an epoxide and the reaction conditions are acidic, which suggests that it is a ring-opening reaction. The acid protonates the epoxide ring, making it more reactive towards nucleophilic attack. The nucleophile in this case is water (H2O). There are two possible products from this reaction, depending on which carbon is attacked by the water. If the water attacks the carbon with the most substituted group (the one with the OCH3), it will produce product III. If the water attacks the other carbon (the one with the CH3), it will produce product IV. Therefore, the answer is C, III and IV. Choice A, I, is incorrect because there is no iodine source in the reaction. Choice B, II, is incorrect because there is no way for a secondary alcohol to be produced in this reaction. Choice D, I and II, is incorrect because there is only one starting material and it can only produce one of the two possible products. Choice E, All of the above, is incorrect for the same reasons as choices A, B, and D.

What Would Be the Major Product(s)of the Following Reaction