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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3ap014

2-Methyloxirane (propylene oxide) is treated separately with (I) in , and (II) with a catalytic amount of . The major products are, respectively,

  1. A(I) 1-methoxypropan-2-ol; (II) 1-methoxypropan-2-ol
  2. B(I) 2-methoxypropan-1-ol; (II) 1-methoxypropan-2-ol
  3. C(I) 2-methoxypropan-1-ol; (II) 2-methoxypropan-1-ol
  4. D(I) 1-methoxypropan-2-ol; (II) 2-methoxypropan-1-ol

Answer: D

Under basic conditions the strong nucleophile attacks the less hindered carbon (SN2), giving 1-methoxypropan-2-ol. Under acid catalysis the protonated epoxide has considerable positive charge on the more substituted carbon, so methanol attacks there, giving 2-methoxypropan-1-ol.
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More questions on Preparation of alcohols including from carbonyls and Grignard