Organic Chemistry : Help with Ether and Ester Synthesis

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Organic Chemistry

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Carbonyl Products

Which of the following reactions is NOT a valid synthesis of methyl benzoate? 

             Q9

Possible Answers:

I

II

All are valid syntheses of methyl benzoate

IV

III

Correct answer:

II

Explanation:

Each reaction is shown, with its name and correct product below.

If you are unsure how the product is obtained through each reaction, use your textbook or internet sources to find a mechanism for each. Reactions I, II, and III are specific examples of substitution reactions, and the last, reaction IV, goes through a more complex addition-elimination reaction to release nitrogen gas.

Working through the mechanism for a reaction is always a certain way to find the product, even if you don't know from the outset what it will be. Just look for the electrophile and nucleophile in each step of the mechanism, and push those arrows!

 

      A9

Example Question #2 : Carbonyl Products

Ohetherstereochem

What reagent is required to complete the reaction?

Possible Answers:

4-toluenesulfonyl chloride (TsCl)

Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4)

HBr

PCC

NaH

Correct answer:

4-toluenesulfonyl chloride (TsCl)

Explanation:

This reaction is completed by tosylating the hydroxyl group to make it a good leaving group (keep in mind the stereochemistry is retained through the tosylation reaction). The second step is an SN2 reaction with the methoxide ion, which gives the correct stereochemistry. HBr will not result in the correct stereochemical product. 

Example Question #3 : Carbonyl Products

What is the product of the reaction between sodium ethoxide and 1-bromopropane?

Possible Answers:

2-ethoxypropane

None of these

1-propanol

No reaction occurs

1-ethoxypropane

Correct answer:

1-ethoxypropane

Explanation:

In solution, the sodium in sodium ethoxide will ionize and an  ion will be present.

Bromine is a good leaving group. In the same step, the bromine leaves and the electrons from the ethoxide will attack that carbon. This creates a bond between the carbon and an oxygen.

The final product is an ether with three carbons on one side and two on the other. This is 1-ethoxypropane.

Example Question #4 : Help With Ether And Ester Synthesis

An organic chemist wants to synthesize an ether product. She begins with methanol and ethanol as her substrates. How would she go about synthesizing the desired ether product?

Possible Answers:

Add heat to the substrates to elicit a dehydration reaction

Convert the alcohol on the methanol to a tosylate group and allow this modified substrate to react with the ethanol

Put both substrates in an aprotic solvent and allow them to react via 

It is impossible to create an ether product with these substrates

Correct answer:

Convert the alcohol on the methanol to a tosylate group and allow this modified substrate to react with the ethanol

Explanation:

The substrates must be modified in order to attain the desired product. In order to get the desired product, she needs to change one of the alcohol groups into a good leaving group. One way to do this is to react the methanol with  to create a primary tosylate. Because of its advanced resonance, tosylate is an extraordinary leaving group, and so the ethanol is free to attack the modified substrate to form an ether.

Example Question #2 : Help With Ether And Ester Synthesis

Consider the following reaction.

Vt orgo 12 19 15Problem 1 product

In this reaction, two molecules of an alpha-hydroxy acid are condensed with heat to form product. What functional group is created in this reaction?

Possible Answers:

Ester

Ether

Ketone

Aldehyde

Correct answer:

Ester

Explanation:

For this question, we're shown the structures of both the reactants and products, and we're asked to identify which functional group is in the product.

First, let's go through the answer choices and define them. Then, we'll compare that definition with what we see in the product.

Aldehydes are functional groups in which a carbon atom is double bonded to an oxygen atom. The carbon atom must also be bound to at least one hydrogen atom, and to another hydrogen or carbon atom. Usually, aldehydes occur at the terminal ends of a molecule.

Ketones are similar to aldehydes. These functional groups contain a carbon atom double bound to an oxygen atom. In addition, the carbon atom is bound to two other carbon atoms. Thus, ketones tend to be found within a compound, as opposed to at the terminal ends.

Ethers are a class of functional group in which an oxygen atom is situated between two carbon atoms via a single bond.

Carboxylic acids are a functional group in which a carbon is double bound to one oxygen atom, and also single bonded to the oxygen of a hydroxyl group. This functional group does not occur in the product, but it does occur in the reactant.

Esters are a functional group in which a carbon atom is double bonded to an oxygen atom, and also single bonded to another oxygen atom. However, unlike carboxylic acids, esters do not contain a hydroxyl group. Instead, the oxygen atom is bound to another "R group," typically another carbon atom.

Now, let's go ahead and take a look at the product. Shown in red circles, we see that there are two ester groups in the product. Thus, the ester functional group is the correct answer.

Problem 1 product answer

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors