Module learning objectives

This module is concerned with interconversion of alcohols and alkenes. 
The two reagents used to prepare alcohols from alkenes are given below:
A concentrated H2SO4 followed by water
B diborane (B2H6) followed by alkaline hydrogen peroxide (H2O2/NaOH)
 
After completing this module you should be able to
  • identify the number of possible alcohol products from reaction of an alkene with either of the two reagents and, if more than one is formed, the major product.
     
  • choose the structure of the alkene that will give rise to a particular type of alcohol (primary, secondary or tertiary)
     
  • choose which of the two reagents in the objective above are appropriate to prepare a particular alcohol from a given alkene
     
Alkenes are prepared from alcohols by heating with phosphoric acid (H3PO4).
After completing the module you should be able to  
  • recognise how many alkene products are possible from a given alcohol
     
  • identify the major alkene product formed from a given alcohol
     
  • construct a reaction scheme for interconversion of two alcohols through the corresponding alkene