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Multiple Choice
Predict the major, organic product for the following reaction.
A
B
C
D
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the starting material: The starting material is an epoxide, which is a three-membered cyclic ether. Epoxides are highly reactive due to the ring strain.
Recognize the reagent: The reagent is a Gilman reagent, specifically a dialkylcuprate (R2CuLi). Gilman reagents are known for their ability to open epoxide rings through nucleophilic attack.
Determine the site of attack: The Gilman reagent will attack the less hindered carbon of the epoxide ring, leading to ring opening. This is due to the nucleophilic nature of the reagent, which prefers less sterically hindered sites.
Consider stereochemistry: The attack by the Gilman reagent will result in inversion of configuration at the site of attack due to the backside attack mechanism typical of SN2 reactions.
Account for the quenching step: The second step involves quenching with H3O+, which will protonate the alkoxide intermediate formed after the ring opening, resulting in an alcohol group in the final product.