Syntesis of (1R,2S)-1-(m-Bromophenyl)-3-methyl-1,2-butanediol Assignment

Syntesis of (1R,2S)-1-(m-Bromophenyl)-3-methyl-1,2-butanediol - Assignment Example Any project that involves synthesis of organic compounds requires a thorough knowledge of synthetic methods available, the reaction mechanisms, the possible commercial starting materials, tools for analyzing the product such as IR, UV, NMR and MS and means of isolation. Bromination of benzene is an electrophilic substitution reaction, which takes place in the presence of aluminium chloride. The reaction mechanism of this electrophilic substitution reaction is a two-step process. Step 1 is a Lewis-base-Lewis acid reaction between bromine ion and benzene. Step 2 involves the loss of a proton to regenerate the benzene ring. The bromobenzene formed in the first stage then reacts with 3-methyl-2-butenal to form 1-(m-Bromophenyl)-3-methyl-2-butenal. Hydration of 1-(m-Bromophenyl)-3-methyl-2-butenal using water in presence the of dilute sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide and heat gives an anti-Markovnikov’s product (McMurry