Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition

Acetal Protecting Group

Organic Chemistry

21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition

Acetal Protecting Group

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2:33 minutes

Problem 36d

Textbook Question

Predict the major products of the following reactions:
(d)

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Recognize the reaction type. The reagents Zn(Hg), HCl, and H2O indicate a Clemmensen reduction, which is used to reduce ketones or aldehydes to their corresponding alkanes.

Step 2: Identify the functional group being reduced. In the given molecule, the ketone group (C=O) is the functional group that will be reduced to a methylene group (-CH2).

Step 3: Analyze the rest of the molecule. The cyclic structure with the acetal group (two oxygen atoms connected to the same carbon) is stable under the acidic conditions of the Clemmensen reduction and will remain unchanged.

Step 4: Predict the major product. The ketone group will be reduced to a methylene group, while the acetal group and the cyclic structure will stay intact.

Step 5: Draw the structure of the major product. Replace the ketone group with a methylene group (-CH2) and keep the rest of the molecule unchanged.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Reaction Mechanisms

Understanding reaction mechanisms is crucial in organic chemistry as they describe the step-by-step process by which reactants transform into products. This includes identifying intermediates, transition states, and the movement of electrons. Familiarity with mechanisms helps predict the major products of a reaction based on the stability of intermediates and the energy changes involved.

Functional Groups

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. Recognizing functional groups in the reactants allows chemists to anticipate how they will interact during a reaction. This knowledge is essential for predicting the products formed, as different functional groups can lead to distinct reaction pathways.

Regioselectivity and Stereoselectivity

Regioselectivity refers to the preference of a chemical reaction to yield one structural isomer over others, while stereoselectivity involves the preference for a specific stereoisomer. These concepts are important when predicting products, as they determine which atoms or bonds are involved in the reaction and how the spatial arrangement of atoms affects the final product. Understanding these principles helps in accurately forecasting the outcome of organic reactions.

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