Compound A (C7H11Br) is treated with magnesium in ether to give B (C7H11MgBr), which reacts violently with D2O togive 1-methylcyclohexene with a deuterium atom on the methyl group (C).

Compound A (C7H11Br) is treated with magnesium in ether to give B (C7H11MgBr), which reacts violently with D2O togive 1-methylcyclohexene with a deuterium atom on the methyl group (C). Reaction of B with acetone (CH3COCH3)followed by hydrolysis gives D (C10H18O). Heating D with concentrated H2SO4 gives E (C10H16), which decolorizestwo equivalents of Br2 to give F (C10H16Br4). E undergoes hydrogenation with excess H2 and a Pt catalyst to giveisobutylcyclohexane. Determine the structures of compounds A through F, and show your reasoning throughout

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

To solve this problem, let’s break down each step of the reaction and determine the structure of each compound based on the provided information.

Compound A (C7H11Br):

  • Structure: Compound A is likely a bromoalkane. Given that it’s treated with magnesium to form a Grignard reagent, it suggests that A is a bromocyclohexane derivative.
  • Reasoning: The presence of a bromine atom indicates that A is likely 1-bromocyclohexane (C7H11Br), where the bromine is attached to the cyclohexane ring.

Compound B (C7H11MgBr):

  • Structure: Compound B is the Grignard reagent, formed by reacting compound A with magnesium in ether. This results in the formation of a cyclohexylmagnesium bromide (C7H11MgBr).
  • Reasoning: The magnesium inserts between the carbon-bromine bond, forming the Grignard reagent, where the bromine is replaced by a magnesium-bromine bond.

Reaction with D2O:

  • When compound B reacts with D2O (heavy water), the result is 1-methylcyclohexene with a deuterium atom on the methyl group (C).
  • Structure of C: The reaction forms 1-methylcyclohexene (C7H12) with a deuterium atom replacing the hydrogen on the methyl group. This suggests the formation of a deuterated 1-methylcyclohexene.
  • Reasoning: The Grignard reagent acts as a strong base and abstracts a proton from D2O, replacing it with a deuterium atom (D).

Compound D (C10H18O):

  • Structure: Reaction of B with acetone (CH3COCH3) forms an addition product. The Grignard reagent adds to the carbonyl group of acetone, resulting in a tert-butyl alcohol structure after hydrolysis.
  • Reasoning: The product is D, a tertiary alcohol with the formula C10H18O, which matches the structure of 2-methyl-2-pentanol (a product of the Grignard reaction with acetone).

Compound E (C10H16):

  • Structure: Heating compound D with concentrated H2SO4 leads to dehydration, resulting in the formation of E, a cyclohexene derivative (C10H16).
  • Reasoning: The dehydration removes water from the alcohol, forming a double bond to create a cyclohexene structure, specifically 1-methylcyclohexene.

Compound F (C10H16Br4):

  • Structure: Decolorization of bromine in the presence of compound E indicates the presence of a reactive alkene. The alkene reacts with two equivalents of Br2, leading to the formation of a tetra-bromo derivative.
  • Reasoning: The dibromination occurs across the double bond of 1-methylcyclohexene, resulting in F, which is 1,2,3,4-tetrabromocyclohexane (C10H16Br4).

Final Structure of Compounds A–F:

  1. A (C7H11Br): 1-bromocyclohexane.
  2. B (C7H11MgBr): Cyclohexylmagnesium bromide.
  3. C (C7H12D): 1-deuterated methylcyclohexene.
  4. D (C10H18O): 2-methyl-2-pentanol (tert-butyl alcohol).
  5. E (C10H16): 1-methylcyclohexene.
  6. F (C10H16Br4): 1,2,3,4-tetrabromocyclohexane.

This sequence describes the formation and transformations of each compound, leading to their final structures.

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