[anarchron]

Hi guys, would this reaction be possible:

CH3CH2CH=CH2 + OH-   -->   CH3CH2CH2CH2OH

Thanks

[Albert]

I sincerely doubt it: first of all, you need an acid (and, obviously, water). Moreover, you yield a secondary alcohol.

[anarchron]

Ok assuming that the reaction takes places with H3PO4 acting as a catalyst.

Apparently the only answer possible was:

CH3CH2CH(OH)CH3

IMHO, they're both isomers and hence both would be acceptable.

BTW what's a secondary alcohol?

[Albert]

A secondary alcohol is exactly what you've drawn.

I've always used H2SO4 rather thatn H3PO4 for this reaction, but I don't see anything against your approach.

[anarchron]

Damn multichoice questions!!

[Dan]

IMHO, they're both isomers and hence both would be acceptable.

BTW what's a secondary alcohol?

The reaction is regioselective (it's an example of Markovnikov addition). If every chemical reaction produced a mixture of all the stereoisomers of the product, the world would be a very different place.

A primary alcohol is an alcohol in which the OH group is bonded to a carbon which is only bonded to one other carbon.
eg. CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OH

A secondary alcohol is an alcohol in which the OH group is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to two other carbons.
eg. CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃

A tertiary alcohol is an alcohol in which the OH group is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to three other carbons.
eg. CH₃C(OH)(CH₃)CH₃

[anarchron]

IMHO, they're both isomers and hence both would be acceptable.

BTW what's a secondary alcohol?

The reaction is regioselective (it's an example of Markovnikov addition). If every chemical reaction produced a mixture of all the stereoisomers of the product, the world would be a very different place.

A primary alcohol is an alcohol in which the OH group is bonded to a carbon which is only bonded to one other carbon.
eg. CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OH

A secondary alcohol is an alcohol in which the OH group is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to two other carbons.
eg. CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃

A tertiary alcohol is an alcohol in which the OH group is bonded to a carbon which is bonded to three other carbons.
eg. CH₃C(OH)(CH₃)CH₃

How would I know what the products of the reaction is going to be?

The whole question in its entirety reads:

CH3CH2CH2CH3 Cracking -> H2 + W

W + HCl -> X + Y
(X = CH3CH2CH2CH2Cl)

Y + OH- -> Z

What must W and Z be?

[Dan]

I think W is but-1-ene, but I don't think Y is but-1-ene.

X is the primary chlorobutane, so I think Y is the secondary chlorobutane (addition of HCl to but-1-ene has formed a mixture of the two isomers - I expect Y is the major product though).

The secondary chlorobutane will react with OH^- to form the secondary alcohol only.

[mookxi]

Hi guys, would this reaction be possible:

CH3CH2CH=CH2 + OH-   -->   CH3CH2CH2CH2OH

Thanks

Out of curiosity, which trial paper is this from, if taken from any?