Answer:
The new class of compound formed is an alcohol.
Explanation:
The treatment of an alkene with Hg(OAc)₂ in alcohol followed by reaction with NaBH₄ gives an alcohol. This reaction is known as oxymercuration-demercuration reaction. It is a two-step pathway which proceeds in the Markovnikov manner. In this reaction, the alkene react with the Mercury salt (Hg(OAc)₂) and a nucleophile (alcohol) to form an organomercury intermediate. The intermediate's carbon-mercury bond is then converted to carbon-hydrogen bond by the reaction with NaBH₄. An alcohol is then produced.
