Would ethanol (CH3CH2OH) be a suitable solvent in which to perform the following proton

Problem 3.41

Would ethanol  be a suitable solvent in which to perform the following proton transfer? Explain your answer: 

                                                               Step by step solution

Step 1 of 2

Ethanol does not react with the reactants if it is to be used as a solvent. To put it another way, the equilibrium shown below should be favoured to the left side.

We can determine the direction the equilibrium will favor by comparing the stability of the conjugate bases.

Here, the negative charge is either localized on an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom.

Oxygen atoms stabilize negative charges better since they are more electronegative, so the ethoxide ion is better stabilized.