Ketones can be converted to tertiary alcohols by

Options

A. Reduction
B. Oxidation
C. Reaction with Grignard reagent
D. All of these

Answer

To convert ketones to tertiary alcohols, we can use Grignard's reagent. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

### Step 1: Understanding the Reactants
- **Ketones** are organic compounds characterized by the presence of a carbonyl group (C=O) flanked by two carbon atoms.
- **Grignard's reagent** is an organomagnesium compound represented as R-MgX, where R is an organic group and X is a halogen.

### Step 2: Reaction of Ketone with Grignard's Reagent
1. **Select a Ketone**: For example, let’s consider a general ketone represented as R1C(=O)R2.
2. **Add Grignard's Reagent**: Introduce Grignard's reagent (R3-MgX) to the ketone. The nucleophilic carbon (R3-) from Grignard's reagent will attack the electrophilic carbon of the carbonyl group.

### Step 3: Formation of an Alkoxide Intermediate
- The attack of the Grignard reagent leads to the formation of a tetrahedral alkoxide intermediate:
- R1C(OH)(R2)R3-MgX
- This intermediate contains an oxygen atom with a negative charge and is stabilized by the magnesium halide.

### Step 4: Hydrolysis
1. **Add Water**: To convert the alkoxide intermediate into an alcohol, hydrolysis is performed by adding water.
2. **Protonation**: The negatively charged oxygen from the alkoxide will grab a proton from water, resulting in the formation of a tertiary alcohol:
- R1C(OH)(R2)(R3) + Mg(OH)X

### Step 5: Result
- The final product is a tertiary alcohol (R1C(OH)(R2)(R3)), confirming that the ketone has been successfully converted to a tertiary alcohol.

### Conclusion
- The entire process involves the nucleophilic attack of Grignard's reagent on the ketone, followed by hydrolysis to yield a tertiary alcohol.