Difference between revisions of "Pinacol coupling reaction"

From Sciencemadness Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Created page with "{{Stub}} A '''pinacol coupling reaction''' is an organic reaction in which a carbon–carbon bond is formed between the carbonyl groups of an aldehyde or a ketone in...")
 
(No difference)

Latest revision as of 20:45, 26 December 2022

A pinacol coupling reaction is an organic reaction in which a carbon–carbon bond is formed between the carbonyl groups of an aldehyde or a ketone in presence of an electron donor in a free radical process. The reaction product is a vicinal diol. The reaction is named after pinacol (also known as 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butanediol or tetramethylethylene glycol), which is the product of this reaction when done with acetone as reagent.

Mechanism

The first step in the reaction mechanism is a one-electron reduction of the carbonyl group by a reducing agent —such as magnesium— to a ketyl radical anion species. Two ketyl groups react in a coupling reaction yielding a vicinal diol with both hydroxyl groups deprotonated. Addition of water or another proton donor gives the diol. With magnesium as an electron donor, the initial reaction product is a 5-membered cyclic compound with the two oxygen atoms coordinated to the oxidized Mg2+ ion. This complex is broken up by addition of water with formation of magnesium hydroxide. The pinacol coupling can be followed up by a pinacol rearrangement.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads