>
> One last question,
> It seems to me that it is possible to form a racemic solution in a
> oxymucuration-demurcuration rxn but the book doesn't explicitly say that.
> Can anyone confirm my gut feeling?
> Kevin Michels
>
Kevin-
I would say that this is possible. In my understanding of the reaction,
the mercury-bridged carbocation intermediate can form on either side of
the alkene C=C bond. If a stereocenter is formed via the addition of the
-OH group, I don't see any reason that the product could be a racemic. I
think this is right, but if I'm full of crap, somebody please tell me.
Andy Glandon