Acetone on treatment with magnesium amalgam gives a diol which rearran...
Introduction
Acetone is a commonly used solvent in laboratories and industries. When treated with magnesium amalgam, it gives a diol which upon rearrangement in the presence of acid yields a ketone.
Chemical Equations
The reaction of acetone with magnesium amalgam can be represented as follows:
CH3COCH3 + Mg/Hg → CH3C(OH)(OH)CH3
The above reaction yields a diol, which upon treatment with acid undergoes a rearrangement reaction to yield a ketone. The mechanism of this rearrangement reaction is as follows:
Mechanism of Rearrangement Reaction
The rearrangement reaction of the diol formed in the above reaction can be explained by the following mechanism:
1. Protonation: The diol is protonated by the acid, forming an oxonium ion.
CH3C(OH)(OH)CH3 + H+ → CH3C(OH)2CH3+
2. Migration: The oxygen atom of the hydroxyl group adjacent to the carbonyl group migrates to the carbonyl carbon, forming a transition state.
CH3C(OH)2CH3+ → CH3C(=O)CH3OH2+
3. Deprotonation: The oxonium ion loses a proton, forming the final product, a ketone.
CH3C(=O)CH3OH2+ → CH3C(=O)CH3 + H2O
Identification of Ketone
The ketone formed in the above reaction is mesityl oxide, which has a chemical formula of C6H10O. The structure of mesityl oxide is as follows:
CH3
|
CH3C=O
|
CH3
Conclusion
Acetone on treatment with magnesium amalgam gives a diol, which upon rearrangement in the presence of acid yields mesityl oxide, a ketone. The rearrangement reaction occurs through a mechanism involving protonation, migration, and deprotonation.
Acetone on treatment with magnesium amalgam gives a diol which rearran...
Acetone--->pinacol