Meyer Schuster Rearrangement

Acid-catalyzed rearrangement of secondary and tertiary α-acetylenic alcohols (propargyl alcohols) to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, aldehydes result when the acetylenic group is terminal and ketones when it is internal. This rearrangement is known as Meyer Schuster Rearrangement.

Mechanism of Meyer Schuster Rearrangement

The possible mechanism is given below-

Meyer Schuster Rearrangement with Internal Acetylenic Group

Meyer Schuster Rearrangement with Terminal Acetylenic Group

Applications of Meyer Schuster Rearrangement