Question

Please provide a mechanism that includes the formation of both products.

NaBH4 MeOH -OH OH Borneol Camphor Isoborneol

Why is isoborneol formed more in the reduction reaction? How would product distribution change if methyl groups were missing from camphor?

Answer 1

que Reduction of Comphor by Na Bhup Answer Camphor on aeduction by NaBH4 form mixture of Borneol and I soborneot, out of these two Isoborneol is major and stable. Mechanism Na BH4 Meor OX Borneol Tsoborneol comphor Nabh t for the q acts as deducing agent and source reduction. It acts as nucleophile. below sidy Nucleaphoto

Stenc ornoding more Bornet oh (exe) D orf Non Borned (major) storic crooding less endo * In reduction a camphor by Nabile, the nu (H) attacks on carbonyl carbon either from exo side (below) or endo side (above). If it attack form exo side, then there is Stene crowding because of methyl group. Hence to nucleophite favors form the endo side couch is less comoded and forms Isoborneof major porstuet * But ef methyl group is persone then to attacks from exo side ferrys borneol as major product NOBHL o exo com oh exo cmojar) methyl group remored! endo (miner)