The reagent which converts propene to propan-1-ol is

The reagent used to convert propene to propan-1-ol is diborane (B₂H₆). This conversion occurs through a two-step process involving hydroboration followed by oxidation.

Step 1: Hydroboration

Propene undergoes addition with diborane (B₂H₆), where the reaction follows the Anti-Markovnikov’s rule. In this reaction, the boron atom from BH₃ (a component of diborane) adds to the less substituted carbon atom of the double bond, forming a trialkylborane intermediate. The reaction can be represented as:

CH3−CH=CH2 + BH3 → (CH3−CH2−CH2)3B

Step 2: Oxidation

The trialkylborane intermediate formed in the first step is then oxidized using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the presence of a hydroxide ion (OH^-). This oxidation replaces the boron atom with a hydroxyl group (-OH), resulting in the formation of propan-1-ol. The chemical equation for this step is as follows:

(CH3−CH2−CH2)3B + 3H2O2 + 3OH− → 3CH3−CH2−CH2−OH + B(OH)3

Key Features of the Reaction

• The reaction follows the Anti-Markovnikov’s rule, ensuring that the hydroxyl group attaches to the primary carbon atom.
• The process effectively converts propene to propan-1-ol without rearrangement of the carbon skeleton.
• The use of diborane and subsequent oxidation makes this method efficient and specific for forming primary alcohols like propan-1-ol.