What are some common mistakes students make with acid catalyzed hydro-alkoxy additions?

Question

Ruby Allen · Accepted Answer

It is easy to remember (though a little mean) that "the rich get richer" implies that the "proton-rich" get more protons, for Markovnikov addition. I could imagine someone adding anti-Markovnikov by accident, that is, adding the proton to the more substituted carbon by accident.

Isaac Aronson · Answer

undefined Some common mistakes students make with acid-catalyzed hydro-alkoxy additions include:

1. Incorrect choice of reagents or reaction conditions.
2. Insufficient understanding of reaction mechanisms leading to incorrect product formation.
3. Improper control of reaction parameters such as temperature, concentration, or reaction time.
4. Failure to account for side reactions or competing pathways.
5. Inadequate purification techniques leading to impure products.
6. Misinterpretation of experimental results or characterization data.
7. Neglecting safety precautions when handling acid catalysts or reactive reagents.