Answer to Question #254984 in Organic Chemistry for mariam

Question

The reaction scheme shows the synthesis of 2-methylpentnoic acid from diethyl malonate (malonic ester).

i) The reagents in step 1 are:(i) EtO and (ii) an alkyl halide. What alkyl halide is required in step 1? Draw a mechanism for the reactions that occur in step 1.

ii) Suggest reagents for step 2.

iii) suggest reagents for step 3. Name this type of reaction.

iv) Step 4 is a thermal decarboxylation reaction. Show a mechanism for the decarboxylation in step 4 that results in the formation of 2-methylpentnoic acid, and explain why the decarboxylation of the dicarboxylic acid in step 4 is particularly facile that is it readily occurs.

Answer 1

The answer is provided in the image below