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NEET levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 1 of 3hx039

Optically pure (R)-3-bromo-3-methylhexane is hydrolysed in a polar solvent by an pathway. The 3-methylhexan-3-ol obtained is

  1. Aa meso compound
  2. Bpure (S) enantiomer
  3. Cpure (R) enantiomer
  4. Dessentially a racemic mixture, optically inactive

Answer: D

Ionisation gives a planar tertiary carbocation, which water attacks from either face with nearly equal probability. Equal amounts of (R) and (S) alcohol form, so the mixture is racemic and shows no net optical rotation.
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