Question

Reaction between acetone and methylmagnesium chloride followed by hydrolysis will give :

• A. Isopropyl alcohol
• B. Sec. butyl alcohol
• C. Tert. butyl alcohol
• D. Isobutyl alcohol

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The reaction between acetone and methylmagnesium chloride followed by hydrolysis is a classic example of a Grignard reaction. Here is the step-by-step explanation of the process: 

Acetone, a ketone, reacts with methylmagnesium chloride, a Grignard reagent. The general reaction mechanism involves the nucleophilic attack of the Grignard reagent on the carbonyl carbon.

The nucleophile (methyl group, \(\text{-CH}_3\)), from methylmagnesium chloride, attacks the electrophilic carbon atom in acetone's carbonyl group (C=O).

This step results in the formation of an intermediate magnesium alkoxide complex.

The intermediate can be represented as:

\(\text{(CH}_3)_2\text{C-O-MgCl}\)

Hydrolysis of the magnesium alkoxide intermediate yields the corresponding alcohol. In this case, the Tertiary butyl alcohol (\(\text{(CH}_3)_3\text{C-OH}\)) is formed.

Therefore, the product formed from the reaction between acetone and methylmagnesium chloride followed by hydrolysis is tert. butyl alcohol.