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Multiple Choice
Provide the major product for the following reaction
A
B
C
D
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the starting material as a diester, specifically a malonic ester, which is a common substrate for malonic ester synthesis.
In the first step, the diester is treated with sodium ethoxide (NaOEt) in ethanol (EtOH), which generates an enolate ion by deprotonating the methylene group between the two ester groups.
The enolate ion then undergoes an alkylation reaction with 1,3-dibromopropane (BrCH2CH2CH2Br), where the enolate attacks one of the bromine-bearing carbons, displacing the bromide ion and forming a new carbon-carbon bond.
In the third step, the product is hydrolyzed using aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) followed by acidification with water and acid (H3O+), which converts the ester groups into carboxylic acids and then decarboxylates to form a ketone.
Finally, the ketone is reduced using lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4), a strong reducing agent, to form the corresponding alcohol, completing the transformation.