Question 8.1: What products would you obtain from reaction of 2-methylpent...

What products would you obtain from reaction of 2-methylpent-2-ene with:
(a) BH_{3}, followed by H_{2}O_{2}, OH^{-} (b) Hg(OAc)_{2}, followed by NaBH_{4}

S t r a t e g y

When predicting the product of a reaction, you have to recall what you know about the kind of reaction being carried out and then apply that knowledge to the specific case you’re dealing with. In the present instance, recall that the two methods of hydration, hydroboration–oxidation and oxymercuration–demercuration, give complementary products. Hydroboration–oxidation occurs with syn stereochemistry and gives the non-Markovnikov addition product; oxymercuration–demercuration gives the Markovnikov product.