March 28, 2024, 09:50:47 PM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis, base catalyzed  (Read 710 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Allendo

  • Regular Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 13
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis, base catalyzed
« on: May 06, 2020, 01:13:20 AM »
Hi all
For Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis,

http://www.chem.ucalgary.ca/courses/351/Carey5th/Ch21/ch21-5-1.html

in the 3rd step (which is the 2nd step if you look at the btm pic), if I add base to transform the ester to a carboxylate, I understand the mechanism by itself (-OH add to the ester's carbonyl carbon and kick off the -OR group, which fast deprotonate the carboxylic acid to carboxylate.).

But my question is that why don't the -OH attack the ketone carbonyl carbon as well, which is more reactive than the ester carbonyl carbon. In my opinion, the ester side will be transformed into a carboxylate and the ketone side will be transformed into a diol after protonation.


« Last Edit: May 06, 2020, 01:23:41 AM by Allendo »

Offline rolnor

  • Chemist
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2205
  • Mole Snacks: +149/-10
Re: Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis, base catalyzed
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2020, 02:53:23 AM »
Do you mean a diol with twoo hydroxylgroups on the same carbon? These are generally not stable.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2020, 03:51:10 AM by rolnor »

Offline Allendo

  • Regular Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 13
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis, base catalyzed
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2020, 04:30:53 AM »
You are absolutely correct! Thanks!

Sponsored Links