Write a mechanism for each of the following reactions:a. the uncatalyzed hydrolysis of

Problem 17

Write a mechanism for each of the following reactions: a. the uncatalyzed hydrolysis of methyl propionate. b. the aminolysis of phenyl formate, using methylamine.

                                                            Step by Step Solution

Step 1 of 2

(a)

The non catalyzed hydrolysis of methyl propionate.

During the hydrolysis of methyl propionate, the lone pair on the oxygen atom of the water molecule is shifted to the carbonyl carbon of the methyl propionate.

Then the oxygen atom gets a negative charge. And the remaining hydroxide ion is added to the carbon. Hence, the negative charge is shifted to the C -O bond then it shifts to the carbon and methoxy group. As a result methoxide ion is removed from the molecule to form propionic acid.

The mechanism of the reaction is as follows.

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