Predict the initial and final products for the following reaction involving 2-pentyne. Hint: the products are isomers and in equilibrium with each other.
This reaction is an example of oxymercuration reaction of double bond.
Here [tex]Hg^{2+}[/tex] ion makes coordination with double bond in first step resulting formation of a complex having transient carbocationic character.
In the second step, a water molecule attacks the above complex at more substituted position and forms an enol (initial product) subsequently.
Enol is being tautomerized and converted to a ketone (final product)
