Question

Which of the following are the product(s) of the given reaction?

• A. Product P has chiral carbons
• B. Product Q is optically inactive
• C. Product P and Q are identical
• D. Product P and Q are diastereomers

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (D)

A, B, D

Answer 2

Reaction-I (Syn-dihydroxylation) of (E)-but-2-ene yields a racemic mixture of (2R,3R) and (2S,3S)-butane-2,3-diol (Product P). Both isomers have chiral carbons, so statement A is true.

Reaction-II (Epoxidation followed by hydrolysis) of (E)-but-2-ene yields a mixture of (2R,3S) and (2S,3R)-butane-2,3-diol (Product Q). Both of these are meso compounds and are optically inactive. Thus, Product Q is optically inactive, making statement B true.

Product P contains chiral enantiomers, while Product Q contains meso enantiomers. Therefore, P and Q are not identical, making statement C false.

The individual stereoisomers in Product P ((2R,3R) and (2S,3S)) are diastereomers of the individual stereoisomers in Product Q ((2R,3S) and (2S,3R)). Thus, Product P and Product Q are diastereomers, making statement D true.