A Levels Chemistry

The sex-attractant of the house-fly is muscalure, with the following formula.
CH3(CH2),CH = CH(CH2)12CH3
Which statements about muscalure are correct?
1
It will decolourise aqueous bromine.
2
It will be oxidised by cold aqueous alkaline KMNO, to give a diol.
3
It will be optically active.


Choice B is correct because :

Statement 1 is true because the C=C bond undergoes an addition reaction with Br2(aq), which decolourises the solution.

Statement 2 is true because the C=C bond undergoes mild oxidation with cold aqueous alkaline KMnO4, to form (HO-)C-C(-OH), a diol.

Statement 3 is false because muscalure does not have any chiral centers, so it is not optically active.



Organic Synthesis | 2005 - O/N - 9701/1 | Q40