Our research has focused on using greener reagents in the Markovnikov hydration of alkenes. Often such reactions involve rearrangement due to carbocation mechanism. Oxymercuration/demercuration is a standard technique to avoid rearrangement; however, this method utilizes persistent reagents that pose threats to human health and the environment. Finding safer alternative reagents for this reaction has important implications in making the reaction safer, as well as making it more accessible to the undergraduate laboratory.<br/><br/>We worked to find greener reagents by exploring other safer transition metal reagents (specifically zinc acetate and bismuth acetate) in the reaction as well as greener solvent choices. Our research indicates that both zinc acetate and bismuth acetate show promise as an alternative to mercuric acetate in the regioselective, Markovnikov hydration of alkenes. Products are isolated using standard extraction and purification techniques and characterized via <sup>1</sup>H NMR and IR spectroscopy making this technique amenable to use in the undergraduate laboratory curriculum.

Markovnikov hydration of alkenes using greener, alternative reagents

251st National Meeting (2016)

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