Oxymercuration-Demercuration

Oxymercuration-Demercuration Definition:

A two-step process for the Markovnikov addition of water across an alkene. With this process, carbocation rearrangements do not occur.

Oxymercuration-Demercuration Explained:

Oxymercuration is the reaction of an alkene with mercury (II) acetate in aqueous THF, followed by reduction with sodium borohydride where the final product is an alcohol. Mercuric acetate, or mercury (II) acetate, to give it the preferred IUPAC name, is written as Hg(OAc)2; by comparing this formula with the formula Hg(O2CCH3)2, you can equate Ac with OCCH3.