Predict the products of self-condensation of the following esters.
(a) methyl propanoate + NaOCH
(b) ethyl phenylacetate + NaOCH2CH3
Solution:
Here we have to predict the products of self-condensation of the following esters
Step 1
In self-condensation reaction, a chemical compound containing a carbonyl group acts both as the electrophile and the nucleophile.
(a) methyl propanoate + NaOCH3
+ NaOCH3
(Methyl propanoate) (Sodium methoxide) (1-methoxypentan-1,3-dione)
Methyl propanoate on addition with sodium methoxide undergoes self condensation reaction and forms 1-methoxypentan-1,3-dione.