CHAPTER 19
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
SOLUTIONS TO TEXT PROBLEMS
19.1 (b) The four carbon atoms of crotonic acid form a continuous chain. Because there is a double
bond between C-2 and C-3, crotonic acid is one of the stereoisomers of 2-butenoic acid. The
stereochemistry of the double bond is E.
(c) Oxalic acid is a dicarboxylic acid that contains two carbons. It is ethanedioic acid.
(d) The name given to C
6
H
5
CO
2
H is benzoic acid. Because it has a methyl group at the para
position, the compound shown is p-methylbenzoic acid, or 4-methylbenzoic acid.
p-Methylbenzoic acid or
4-methylbenzoic acid
(p-toluic acid)
H
3
CCO
2
H
HO
2
CCO
2
H
Ethanedioic acid
(oxalic acid)
CC
H CO
2
H
H
H
3
C
(E)-2-Butenoic acid
(crotonic acid)
502
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CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 503
19.2 Ionization of peroxy acids such as peroxyacetic acid yields an anion that cannot be stabilized by res-
onance in the same way that acetate can.
19.3 Recall from Chapter 4 (text Section 4.6) that an acid–base equilibrium favors formation of the
weaker acid and base. Also remember that the weaker acid forms the stronger conjugate base, and
vice versa.
(b) The acid–base reaction between acetic acid and tert-butoxide ion is represented by the equation
Alcohols are weaker acids than carboxylic acids; the equilibrium lies to the right.
(c) Bromide ion is the conjugate base of hydrogen bromide, a strong acid.
In this case, the position of equilibrium favors the starting materials, because acetic acid is a
weaker acid than hydrogen bromide.
(d) Acetylide ion is a rather strong base, and acetylene, with a K
a
of 10
H1100226
, is a much weaker acid
than acetic acid. The position of equilibrium favors the formation of products.
(e) Nitrate ion is a very weak base; it is the conjugate base of the strong acid nitric acid. The
position of equilibrium lies to the left.
( f ) Amide ion is a very strong base; it is the conjugate base of ammonia, pK
a
H11005 36. The position
of equilibrium lies to the right.
H11001CH
3
CO
2
H
Acetic acid
(stronger acid)
H
2
N
H11002
Amide ion
(stronger base)
H11001CH
2
CO
2
H11002
Acetate ion
(weaker base)
NH
3
Ammonia
(weaker acid)
H11001CH
3
CO
2
H
Acetic acid
(weaker acid)
NO
3
H11002
Nitrate ion
(weaker base)
H11001CH
3
CO
2
H11002
Acetate ion
(stronger base)
HNO
3
Nitric acid
(stronger acid)
H11001CH
3
CO
2
H11002
Acetate ion
(weaker base)
Acetylene
(weaker acid)
HC CHH11001CH
3
CO
2
H
Acetic acid
(stronger acid)
Acetylide ion
(stronger base)
HC
H11002
C
H11001CH
3
CO
2
H
Acetic acid
(weaker acid)
Br
H11002
Bromide ion
(weaker base)
H11001CH
3
CO
2
H11002
Acetate ion
(stronger base)
HBr
Hydrogen
bromide
(stronger acid)
Acetic acid
(stronger acid)
tert-Butoxide
(stronger base)
tert-Butyl alcohol
(weaker acid)
CH
3
CO
2
H (CH
3
)
3
CO
H11002
Acetate ion
(weaker base)
CH
3
CO
2
H11002
(CH
3
)
3
COHH11001H11001
Delocalization of negative
charge into carbonyl group is
not possible in peroxyacetate ion.
CH
3
CO O
O
H11002
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504 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
19.4 (b) Propanoic acid is similar to acetic acid in its acidity. A hydroxyl group at C-2 is electron-
withdrawing and stabilizes the carboxylate ion of lactic acid by a combination of inductive
and field effects.
Lactic acid is more acidic than propanoic acid. The measured ionization constants are
(c) A carbonyl group is more strongly electron-withdrawing than a carbon–carbon double bond.
Pyruvic acid is a stronger acid than acrylic acid.
(d) Viewing the two compounds as substituted derivatives of acetic acid, RCH
2
CO
2
H, we judge
to be strongly electron-withdrawing and acid-strengthening, whereas an ethyl group
has only a small effect.
19.5 The compound can only be a carboxylic acid; no other class containing only carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen is more acidic. A reasonable choice is HC>CCO
2
H; C-2 is sp-hybridized and therefore
rather electron-withdrawing and acid-strengthening. This is borne out by its measured ionization
constant K
a
, which is 1.4 H11003 10
H110022
(pK
a
1.8).
19.6 For carbonic acid, the “true K
1
” is given by
True K
1
H11005H5007
[H
H11001
[H
][
2
H
C
C
O
O
3
]
3
H11002
]
H5007
The “observed K” is given by the expression
4.3 H11003 10
H110027
H11005
[H
H11001
][HCO
3
H11002
]
H5007H5007
[CO
2
]
Butanoic acid
K
a
1.5 H11003 10
H110025
(pK
a
4.7)
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Methanesulfonylacetic acid
K
a
4.3 H11003 10
H110023
(pK
a
2.4)
CH
3
SCH
2
CO
2
H
O
O
CH
3
S
O
O
Pyruvic acid
K
a
5.1 H11003 10
H110024
(pK
a
3.3)
CH
3
CCO
2
H
O
Acrylic acid
K
a
5.5 H11003 10
H110025
(pK
a
4.3)
H
2
C CHCO
2
H
Propanoic acid
K
a
1.3 H11003 10
H110025
(pK
a
4.9)
CH
3
CH
2
CO
2
H
Lactic acid
K
a
1.4 H11003 10
H110024
(pK
a
3.8)
CH
3
CHCO
2
H
OH
Hydroxyl group stabilizes
negative charge by attracting electrons.
CH
3
CH C
O
OH
O
H11002
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which can be rearranged to
[H
H11001
][HCO
3
H11002
] H11005 (4.3 H11003 10
H110027
)[CO
2
]
and therefore
True K
1
H11005H5007
(4.3 H11003
[H
1
2
C
0
H11002
O
7
3
)
]
[CO
2
]
H5007
H11005
H11005 1.4 H11003 10
H110024
Thus, when corrected for the small degree to which carbon dioxide is hydrated, it can be seen that
carbonic acid is actually a stronger acid than acetic acid. Carboxylic acids dissolve in sodium bicar-
bonate solution because the equilibrium that leads to carbon dioxide formation is favorable, not be-
cause carboxylic acids are stronger acids than carbonic acid.
19.7 (b) 2-Chloroethanol has been converted to 3-hydroxypropanoic acid by way of the corresponding
nitrile.
The presence of the hydroxyl group in 2-chloroethanol precludes the preparation of a Grignard
reagent from this material, and so any attempt at the preparation of 3-hydroxypropanoic acid
via the Grignard reagent of 2-chloroethanol is certain to fail.
(c) Grignard reagents can be prepared from tertiary halides and react in the expected manner with
carbon dioxide. The procedure shown is entirely satisfactory.
Preparation by way of the nitrile will not be feasible. Rather than react with sodium cyanide
by substitution, tert-butyl chloride will undergo elimination exclusively. The S
N
2 reaction
with cyanide ion is limited to primary and secondary alkyl halides.
19.8 Incorporation of
18
O into benzoic acid proceeds by a mechanism analogous to that of esterification.
The nucleophile that adds to the protonated form of benzoic acid is
18
O-enriched water (the
18
O atom
is represented by the shaded letter in the following equations).
The three hydroxyl groups of the tetrahedral intermediate are equivalent except that one of them is
labeled with
18
O. Any one of these three hydroxyl groups may be lost in the dehydration step; when
the hydroxyl group that is lost is unlabeled, an
18
O label is retained in the benzoic acid.
H11001 H
H11001
Tetrahedral
intermediate
C
6
H
5
COH
OH
OH
H11001 H
2
O
H11001
C
6
H
5
C
OH
OH
18
O-enriched benzoic acid
H11001C
6
H
5
C
O
OH
C
6
H
5
C
O
OH
H11002H
H11001
H11001 H
H11001
Benzoic acid
C
6
H
5
COH
O
C
6
H
5
COH
OH
H11001
H11001
C
6
H
5
COH
OH
HH
O
Tetrahedral
intermediate
C
6
H
5
COH
OH
OH
H
2
O
O
tert-Butylmagnesium
chloride
(CH
3
)
3
CMgCl
2,2-Dimethylpropanoic
acid (61–70%)
(CH
3
)
3
CCO
2
H
tert-Butyl chloride
(CH
3
)
3
CCl
Mg
diethyl ether
1. CO
2
2. H
3
O
H11001
2-Chloroethanol
HOCH
2
CH
2
Cl
2-Cyanoethanol
HOCH
2
CH
2
CN
NaCN
H
2
O
3-Hydroxypropanoic
acid
HOCH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
H
3
O
H11001
heat
(4.3 H11003 10
H110027
)(99.7)
H5007H5007
0.3
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 505
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19.9 (b) The 16-membered ring of 15-pentadecanolide is formed from 15-hydroxypentadecanoic
acid.
(c) Vernolepin has two lactone rings, which can be related to two hydroxy acid combinations.
Be sure to keep the relative stereochemistry unchanged. Remember, the carbon–oxygen
bond of an alcohol remains intact when the alcohol reacts with a carboxylic acid to give an
ester.
19.10 Alkyl chlorides and bromides undergo nucleophilic substitution when treated with sodium iodide in
acetone (Section 8.1). A reasonable approach is to brominate octadecanoic acid at its H9251-carbon atom,
then replace the bromine substituent with iodine by nucleophilic substitution.
19.11 (b) The starting material is a derivative of malonic acid. It undergoes efficient thermal decar-
boxylation in the manner shown.
heat
H11001CH
3
(CH
2
)
6
CH
CO
H
O
CO
HO
2-Heptylmalonic acid
CO
2
Carbon
dioxide
CH
3
(CH
2
)
6
CH C
OH
OH
CH
3
(CH
2
)
6
CH
2
COH
O
Nonanoic acid
Br
2
, PCl
3 NaI
acetone
Octadecanoic acid
CH
3
(CH
2
)
15
CH
2
CO
2
H
2-Bromooctadecanoic acid
CH
3
(CH
2
)
15
CHCO
2
H
Br
2-Iodooctadecanoic acid
CH
3
(CH
2
)
15
CHCO
2
H
I
CH
2
O
O
O
OH
O
CH
2
H
2
C
CH
CH
2
OH
CH
2
HOCH
2
HO
2
C
H
2
C CO
2
H
CH
OH
Disconnect this bond.
O
OH
COH
O
O
15-Pentadecanolide 15-Hydroxypentadecanoic
acid
506 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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(c) The phenyl and methyl substituents attached to C-2 of malonic acid play no role in the decar-
boxylation process.
19.12 (b) The thermal decarboxylation of H9252-keto acids resembles that of substituted malonic acids. The
structure of 2,2-dimethylacetoacetic acid and the equation representing its decarboxylation
were given in the text. The overall process involves the bonding changes shown.
19.13 (a) Lactic acid (2-hydroxypropanoic acid) is a three-carbon carboxylic acid that bears a hydroxyl
group at C-2.
(b) The parent name ethanoic acid tells us that the chain that includes the carboxylic acid func-
tion contains only two carbons. A hydroxyl group and a phenyl substituent are present at C-2.
(c) The parent alkane is tetradecane, which has an unbranched chain of 14 carbons. The termi-
nal methyl group is transformed to a carboxyl function in tetradecanoic acid.
Tetradecanoic acid
(myristic acid)
CH
3
(CH
2
)
12
COH
O
2-Hydroxy-2-phenylethanoic acid
(mandelic acid)
CHCO
2
H
OH
2-Hydroxypropanoic acid
CH
3
CHCO
2
H
OH
321
Enol form of 3-methyl-
2-butanone
C
CH
3
OH
CH
3
C
CH
3
3-Methyl-2-butanone
CH
3
CCH(CH
3
)
2
O
H11002CO
2
2,2-Dimethylacetoacetic
acid
O
H
C
H
3
CCH
3
O
C
O
CH
3
C
C
CH
3
O
C
OH
OO
CH
heat
CO
2
H11001
H
3
C
CC
OH
OH
CHCOH
O
CH
3
2-Phenylpropanoic acid
Carbon
dioxide
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 507
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(d) Undecane is the unbranched alkane with 11 carbon atoms, undecanoic acid is the correspond-
ing carboxylic acid, and undecenoic acid is an 11-carbon carboxylic acid that contains a
double bond. Because the carbon chain is numbered beginning with the carboxyl group,
10-undecenoic acid has its double bond at the opposite end of the chain from the carboxyl group.
(e) Mevalonic acid has a five-carbon chain with hydroxyl groups at C-3 and C-5, along with a
methyl group at C-3.
( f ) The constitution represented by the systematic name 2-methyl-2-butenoic acid gives rise to
two stereoisomers.
Tiglic acid is the E isomer, and the Z isomer is known as angelic acid. The higher ranked sub-
stituents, methyl and carboxyl, are placed on opposite sides of the double bond in tiglic acid
and on the same side in angelic acid.
(g) Butanedioic acid is a four-carbon chain in which both terminal carbons are carboxylic acid
groups. Malic acid has a hydroxyl group at C-2.
(h) Each of the carbon atoms of propane bears a carboxyl group as a substituent in 1,2,3-propane-
tricarboxylic acid. In citric acid C-2 also bears a hydroxyl group.
HO
2
CCH
2
CCH
2
CO
2
H
OH
CO
2
H
2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid
(citric acid)
HO
2
CCHCH
2
CO
2
H
OH
2-Hydroxybutanedioic acid
(malic acid)
CC
H
H
3
C
CO
2
H
CH
3
(E)-2-Methyl-2-butenoic
acid (tiglic acid)
CC
H
H
3
C
CH
3
CO
2
H
(Z)-2-Methyl-2-butenoic acid
(angelic acid)
CH
3
CH CCO
2
H
CH
3
2-Methyl-2-butenoic acid
HOCH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CO
2
H
OH
CH
3
3,5-Dihydroxy-3-methylpentanoic acid
(mevalonic acid)
10-Undecenoic acid
(undecylenic acid)
H
2
C CH(CH
2
)
8
CO
2
H
508 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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(i) There is an aryl substituent at C-2 of propanoic acid in ibuprofen. This aryl substituent is a
benzene ring bearing an isobutyl group at the para position.
( j) Benzenecarboxylic acid is the systematic name for benzoic acid. Salicylic acid is a derivative
of benzoic acid bearing a hydroxyl group at the position ortho to the carboxyl.
19.14 (a) The carboxylic acid contains a linear chain of eight carbon atoms. The parent alkane is octane,
and so the systematic name of CH
3
(CH
2
)
6
CO
2
H is octanoic acid.
(b) The compound shown is the potassium salt of octanoic acid. It is potassium octanoate.
(c) The presence of a double bond in CH
2
?CH(CH
2
)
5
CO
2
H is indicated by the ending -enoic
acid. Numbering of the chain begins with the carboxylic acid, and so the double bond is be-
tween C-7 and C-8. The compound is 7-octenoic acid.
(d) Stereochemistry is systematically described by the E–Z notation. Here, the double bond be-
tween C-6 and C-7 in octenoic acid has the Z configuration; the higher ranked substituents are
on the same side.
(e) A dicarboxylic acid is named as a dioic acid. The carboxyl functions are the terminal carbons
of an eight-carbon chain; HO
2
C(CH
2
)
6
CO
2
H is octanedioic acid. It is not necessary to iden-
tify the carboxylic acid locations by number because they can only be at the ends of the chain
when the -dioic acid name is used.
( f ) Pick the longest continuous chain that includes both carboxyl groups and name the compound
as a -dioic acid. This chain contains only three carbons and bears a pentyl group as a sub-
stituent at C-2. It is not necessary to specify the position of the pentyl group, because it can
only be attached to C-2.
Malonic acid is an acceptable synonym for propanedioic acid; this compound may also be
named pentylmalonic acid.
Pentylpropanedioic acid
CH
3
(CH
2
)
4
CHCO
2
H
CO
2
H
21
3
CC
H
H
3
C
H
(CH
2
)
4
CO
2
H
(Z)-6-Octenoic acid
o-Hydroxybenzenecarboxylic acid
(salicylic acid)
OH
CO
2
H
2-( p-Isobutylphenyl)-
propanoic acid
CH
3
CHCO
2
H
CH
2
CH(CH
3
)
2
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 509
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(g) A carboxylic acid function is attached as a substituent on a seven-membered ring. The com-
pound is cycloheptanecarboxylic acid.
(h) The aromatic ring is named as a substituent attached to the eight-carbon carboxylic acid.
Numbering of the chain begins with the carboxyl group.
19.15 (a) Carboxylic acids are the most acidic class of organic compounds containing only the elements
C, H, and O. The order of decreasing acidity is
K
a
pK
a
Acetic acid CH
3
CO
2
H 1.8 H11003 10
H110025
4.7
Ethanol CH
3
CH
2
OH 10
H1100216
16
Ethane CH
3
CH
3
H1101510
H1100246
H1101546
(b) Here again, the carboxylic acid is the strongest acid and the hydrocarbon the weakest:
K
a
pK
a
Benzoic acid C
6
H
5
CO
2
H 6.7 H11003 10
H110025
4.2
Benzyl alcohol C
6
H
5
CH
2
OH 10
H1100216
–10
H1100218
16–18
Benzene C
6
H
6
H1101510
H1100243
H1101543
(c) Propanedioic acid is a stronger acid than propanoic acid because the electron-withdrawing
effect of one carboxyl group enhances the ionization of the other. Propanedial is a 1,3-dicar-
bonyl compound that yields a stabilized enolate; it is more acidic than 1,3-propanediol.
K
a
pK
a
Propanedioic acid HO
2
CCH
2
CO
2
H 1.4 H11003 10
H110023
2.9
Propanoic acid CH
3
CH
2
CO
2
H 1.3 H11003 10
H110025
4.9
Propanedial O?CHCH
2
CH?O H1101510
H110029
H110159
1,3-Propanediol HOCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH H1101510
H1100216
H1101516
(d)Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid is by far the strongest acid in the group. It is structurally related
to sulfuric acid, but its three fluorine substituents make it much stronger. Fluorine substituents
6-Phenyloctanoic acid
CH(CH
2
)
4
CO
2
H
CH
2
CH
3
CO
2
H
510 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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increase the acidity of carboxylic acids and alcohols relative to their nonfluorinated analogs,
but not enough to make fluorinated alcohols as acidic as carboxylic acids.
K
a
pK
a
Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid CF
3
SO
2
OH 10
6
H110026
Trifluoroacetic acid CF
3
CO
2
H 5.9 H11003 10
H110021
0.2
Acetic acid CH
3
CO
2
H 1.8 H11003 10
H110025
4.7
2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol CF
3
CH
2
OH 4.2 H11003 10
H1100213
12.4
Ethanol CH
3
CH
2
OH H1101510
H1100216
H1101516
(e) The order of decreasing acidity is carboxylic acid H11022 H9252-diketone H11022 ketone H11022 hydrocarbon.
K
a
pK
a
Cyclopentanecarboxylic acid 1 H11003 10
H110025
5.0
2,4-Pentanedione 10
H110029
9
Cyclopentanone 10
H1100220
20
Cyclopentene 10
H1100245
45
19.16 (a) A trifluoromethyl group is strongly electron-withdrawing and acid-strengthening. Its ability to
attract electrons from the carboxylate ion decreases as its distance down the chain increases.
3,3,3-Trifluoropropanoic acid is a stronger acid than 4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid.
(b) The carbon that bears the carboxyl group in 2-butynoic acid is sp-hybridized and is, therefore,
more electron-withdrawing than the sp
3
-hybridized H9251 carbon of butanoic acid. The anion of 2-
butynoic acid is therefore stabilized better than the anion of butanoic acid, and 2-butynoic acid
is a stronger acid.
(c) Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid is a typical aliphatic carboxylic acid and is expected to be sim-
ilar to acetic acid in acidity. The greater electronegativity of the sp
2
-hybridized carbon
CH
3
C CCO
2
H
2-Butynoic acid
K
a
2.5 H11003 10
H110023
(pK
a
2.6)
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Butanoic acid
K
a
1.5 H11003 10
H110025
(pK
a
4.8)
CF
3
CH
2
CO
2
H
3,3,3-Trifluoropropanoic acid
(pK
a
3.0)
K
a
9.6 H11003 10
H110024
CF
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
4,4,4-Trifluorobutanoic acid
(pK
a
4.2)
K
a
6.9 H11003 10
H110025
O
CH
3
CCH
2
CCH
3
O O
CO
2
H
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 511
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attached to the carboxyl group in benzoic acid stabilizes benzoate anion better than the cor-
responding sp
3
-hybridized carbon stabilizes cyclohexanecarboxylate. Benzoic acid is a
stronger acid.
(d) Its five fluorine substituents make the pentafluorophenyl group more electron-withdrawing
than an unsubstituted phenyl group. Thus, pentafluorobenzoic acid is a stronger acid than
benzoic acid.
(e) The pentafluorophenyl substituent is electron-withdrawing and increases the acidity of a car-
boxyl group to which it is attached. Its electron-withdrawing effect decreases with distance.
Pentafluorobenzoic acid is a stronger acid than p-(pentafluorophenyl)benzoic acid.
( f ) The oxygen of the ring exercises an acidifying effect on the carboxyl group. This effect is
largest when the oxygen is attached directly to the carbon that bears the carboxyl group.
Furan-2-carboxylic acid is thus a stronger acid than furan-3-carboxylic acid.
(g) Furan-2-carboxylic acid has an oxygen attached to the carbon that bears the carboxyl
group, whereas pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid has a nitrogen in that position. Oxygen is more
Furan-2-carboxylic acid
(pK
a
3.2)
K
a
6.9 H11003 10
H110024
CO
2
H
O
Furan-3-carboxylic acid
(pK
a
3.9)
K
a
1.1 H11003 10
H110024
CO
2
H
O
Pentafluorobenzoic acid
K
a
4.1 H11003 10
H110024
(pK
a
3.4)
p-(Pentafluorophenyl)benzoic acid
(K
a
not measured in water; comparable
with benzoic acid in acidity)
CO
2
H
F
F
F
FF
CO
2
H
F
F
F
FF
Pentafluorobenzoic acid
K
a
4.1 H11003 10
H110024
(pK
a
3.4)
Benzoic acid
K
a
6.7 H11003 10
H110025
(pK
a
4.2)
CO
2
HCO
2
H
F
F
FF
F
Benzoic acid
K
a
6.7 H11003 10
H110025
(pK
a
4.2)
CO
2
H
Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid
K
a
1.2 H11003 10
H110025
(pK
a
4.9)
CO
2
H
512 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
__
__
__
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electronegative than nitrogen and so stabilizes the carboxylate anion better. Furan-2-
carboxylic acid is a stronger acid than pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid.
19.17 (a) The conversion of 1-butanol to butanoic acid is simply the oxidation of a primary alcohol to a
carboxylic acid. Chromic acid is a suitable oxidizing agent.
(b) Aldehydes may be oxidized to carboxylic acids by any of the oxidizing agents that convert
primary alcohols to carboxylic acids.
(c) The starting material has the same number of carbon atoms as does butanoic acid, and so all
that is required is a series of functional group transformations. Carboxylic acids may be ob-
tained by oxidation of the corresponding primary alcohol. The alcohol is available from the
designated starting material, 1-butene.
Hydroboration–oxidation of 1-butene yields 1-butanol, which can then be oxidized to butanoic
acid as in part (a).
(d) Converting 1-propanol to butanoic acid requires the carbon chain to be extended by one atom.
Both methods for achieving this conversion, carboxylation of a Grignard reagent and forma-
tion and hydrolysis of a nitrile, begin with alkyl halides. Alkyl halides in turn are prepared
from alcohols.
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
HCH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
BrCH
3
CH
2
CH
2
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CNor
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
HCH
3
CH
2
CH CH
3
1. B
2
H
6
2. H
2
O
2
, HO
H11002
H
2
CrO
4
1-Butene 1-Butanol Butanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
HCH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH CH
3
CH
2
CH CH
2
K
2
Cr
2
O
7
H
2
SO
4
, H
2
O
Butanal
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
O
Butanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
COH
O
H
2
CrO
4
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1-Butanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Butanoic acid
Furan-2-carboxylic acid
(pK
a
3.2)
K
a
6.9 H11003 10
H110024
CO
2
H
O
CO
2
H
N
H
Pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid
(pK
a
4.4)
K
a
3.5 H11003 10
H110025
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 513
__
__
__
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Either of the two following procedures is satisfactory:
(e) Dehydration of 2-propanol to propene followed by free-radical addition of hydrogen bromide
affords 1-bromopropane.
Once 1-bromopropane has been prepared it is converted to butanoic acid as in part (d).
( f ) The carbon skeleton of butanoic acid may be assembled by an aldol condensation of
acetaldehyde.
Oxidation of the aldehyde followed by hydrogenation of the double bond yields butanoic acid.
(g) Ethylmalonic acid belongs to the class of substituted malonic acids that undergo ready ther-
mal decarboxylation. Decarboxylation yields butanoic acid.
19.18 (a) The Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzene by methyl chloride can be used to prepare
14
C-labeled
toluene (C* H11005
14
C). Once prepared, toluene could be oxidized to benzoic acid.
Benzene Toluene
CH
3
Benzoic acid
CO
2
H
Methyl
chloride
CH
3
ClH11001
AlCl
3
K
2
Cr
2
O
7
, H
2
SO
4
H
2
O, heat
** *
heat
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Butanoic acid
H11001 CO
2
Carbon
dioxide
CO
2
H
CH
3
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
Ethylmalonic acid
H
2
CrO
4
H
2
Pt
CH
3
CH CHCH
O
2-Butenal
CH
3
CH CHCO
2
H
2-Butenoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Butanoic acid
KOH, ethanol
heat
2CH
3
CH
O
Acetaldehyde
O
CH
3
CH CHCH
2-Butenal
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
HCH
3
CH CHCH
O
2CH
3
CH
O
HBr
peroxides
H
2
SO
4
heat
CH
3
CHCH
3
OH
2-Propanol
CH
3
CH CH
2
Propene
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Br
1-Bromopropane
PBr
3
or HBr
KCN
DMSO
H
2
O, HCl
heat
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Br
1-Bromopropane
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CN
Butanenitrile
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1-Propanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Butanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
MgBr
PBr
3
or HBr
Mg
diethyl ether
1. CO
2
2. H
3
O
H11001
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Br
1-Bromopropane
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1-Propanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Butanoic acid
514 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
__
__
__
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(b) Formaldehyde can serve as a one-carbon source if it is attacked by the Grignard reagent de-
rived from bromobenzene.
This sequence yields
14
C-labeled benzyl alcohol, which can be oxidized to
14
C-labeled
benzoic acid.
(c) A direct route to
14
C-labeled benzoic acid utilizes a Grignard synthesis employing
14
C-labeled
carbon dioxide.
19.19 (a) An acid–base reaction takes place when pentanoic acid is combined with sodium hydroxide.
(b) Carboxylic acids react with sodium bicarbonate to give carbonic acid, which dissociates to
carbon dioxide and water, so that the actual reaction that takes place is
(c) Thionyl chloride is a reagent that converts carboxylic acids to the corresponding acyl
chlorides.
(d) Phosphorus tribromide is used to convert carboxylic acids to their acyl bromides.
Pentanoic acid
3CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Phosphorus
tribromide
PBr
3
Phosphorus
acid
H
3
PO
3
H11001H11001
Pentanoyl bromide
3CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CBr
O
Pentanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Thionyl
chloride
SOCl
2
Sulfur
dioxide
SO
2
H11001H11001
Hydrogen
chloride
HClH11001
Pentanoyl chloride
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CCl
O
Pentanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Sodium pentanoate
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
Na
Sodium
bicarbonate
NaHCO
3
Carbon
dioxide
CO
2
H11001H11001
Water
H
2
OH11001
Pentanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Sodium pentanoate
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
Na
Sodium
hydroxide
NaOH
Water
H
2
OH11001H11001
Benzene Bromobenzene
Br
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
MgBr
Br
2
FeBr
3
Mg
diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
1. CO
2
Benzoic acid
CO
2
H
*
*
K
2
Cr
2
O
7
, H
2
SO
4
H
2
O
Benzyl alcohol
CH
2
OH
*
Benzoic acid
CO
2
H
*
Benzene Bromobenzene
Br
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
MgBr
Br
2
FeBr
3
Mg
diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
1. HCH
O
Benzyl alcohol
CH
2
OH
*
*
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 515
__
__
__
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(e) Carboxylic acids react with alcohols in the presence of acid catalysts to give esters.
( f ) Chlorine is introduced at the H9251-carbon atom of a carboxylic acid. The reaction is catalyzed
by a small amount of phosphorus or a phosphorus trihalide and is called the Hell–Volhard–
Zelinsky reaction.
The H9251-halo substituent is derived from the halogen used, not from the phosphorus trihalide.
(g) In the case, bromine is introduced at the H9251 carbon.
(h) H9251-Halo carboxylic acids are reactive substrates in nucleophilic substitution. Iodide acts as a
nucleophile to displace bromide from 2-bromopentanoic acid.
(i) Aqueous ammonia converts H9251-halo acids to H9251-amino acids.
( j ) Lithium aluminum hydride is a powerful reducing agent and reduces carboxylic acids to pri-
mary alcohols.
(k) Phenylmagnesium bromide acts as a base to abstract the carboxylic acid proton.
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
MgBr
Bromomagnesium pentanoate
H11001CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Pentanoic acid
C
6
H
5
MgBr
Phenylmagnesium
bromide
H11001 C
6
H
6
Benzene
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1. LiAlH
4
2. H
2
O
1-Pentanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Pentanoic acid
H11001H11001CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
Br
2-Bromopentanoic acid
2NH
3
Ammonia
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
NH
2
2-Aminopentanoic acid
NH
4
Br
Ammonium
bromide
H11001H11001
acetone
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
Br
2-Bromopentanoic acid
NaI
Sodium
iodide
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
I
2-Iodopentanoic acid
NaBr
Sodium
bromide
Pentanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Bromine
Br
2
Hydrogen
bromide
HBrH11001H11001
2-Bromopentanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
Br
PCl
3
(catalyst)
Pentanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Chlorine
Cl
2
Hydrogen
chloride
HClH11001H11001
2-Chloropentanoic
acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
Cl
PBr
3
(catalyst)
Pentanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Benzyl alcohol
C
6
H
5
CH
2
OH
Water
H
2
OH11001H11001
Benzyl pentanoate
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
COCH
2
C
6
H
5
O
H
2
SO
4
516 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
__
__
__
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Grignard reagents are not compatible with carboxylic acids; proton transfer converts the
Grignard reagent to the corresponding hydrocarbon.
19.20 (a) Conversion of butanoic acid to 1-butanol is a reduction and requires lithium aluminum hy-
dride as the reducing agent.
(b) Carboxylic acids cannot be reduced directly to aldehydes. The following two-step procedure
may be used:
(c) Remember that alkyl halides are usually prepared from alcohols. 1-Butanol is therefore
needed in order to prepare 1-chlorobutane.
(d) Carboxylic acids are converted to their corresponding acyl chlorides with thionyl chloride.
(e) Aromatic ketones are frequently prepared by Friedel–Crafts acylation of the appropriate acyl
chloride and benzene. Butanoyl chloride, prepared in part (d), can be used to acylate benzene
in a Friedel–Crafts reaction.
( f ) The preparation of 4-octanone using compounds derived from butanoic acid may be seen by
using disconnections in a retrosynthetic analysis.
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgBrH11001CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
O
AlCl
3
Butanoyl chloride
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CCl
O
H11001
Benzene Phenyl propyl ketone
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
3
O
SOCl
2
Butanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
COH
O
Butanoyl chloride
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CCl
O
SOCl
2
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1-Butanol [from part (a)]
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Cl
1-Chlorobutane
1. LiAlH
4
2. H
2
O
PCC
CH
2
Cl
2
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1-ButanolButanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
COH
O
Butanal
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
O
1. LiAlH
4
2. H
2
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
1-ButanolButanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
COH
O
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 517
__
__
__
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The reaction scheme which may be used is
(g) Carboxylic acids are halogenated at their H9251-carbon atom by the Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky
reaction.
A catalytic amount of PCl
3
may be used in place of phosphorus in the reaction.
(h) Dehydrohalogenation of 2-bromobutanoic acid gives 2-butenoic acid.
19.21 (a) The compound to be prepared is glycine, an H9251-amino acid. The amino functional group can be
introduced by a nucleophilic substitution reaction on an H9251-halo acid, which is available by
way of the Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky reaction.
(b) Phenoxyacetic acid is used as a fungicide. It can be prepared by a nucleophilic substitution
using sodium phenoxide and bromoacetic acid.
BrCH
2
CO
2
H
Bromoacetic acid
H11001 NaClC
6
H
5
OCH
2
CO
2
H
Phenoxyacetic acid
1. C
6
H
5
ONa
2. H
H11001
H
2
NCH
2
CO
2
H
Aminoacetic acid
(glycine)
NH
3
, H
2
O
BrCH
2
CO
2
H
Bromoacetic acid
CH
3
CO
2
H
Acetic acid
Br
2
P
1. KOC(CH
3
)
3
DMSO
2. H
H11001
CH
3
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
Br
2-Bromobutanoic acid
CH
3
CH CHCO
2
H
2-Butenoic acid
Br
2
P
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
Butanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CHCO
2
H
Br
2-Bromobutanoic acid
1. diethyl ether
2. H
3
O
H11001
Butylmagnesium chloride
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgCl H11001
Butanal [from part (b)]
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
O
4-Octanol
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CHCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
OH
4-Octanone
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CCH
2
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
O
H
2
CrO
4
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Cl
1-Chlorobutane
[from part (c)]
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
MgCl
Butylmagnesium chloride
Mg
518 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
__
__
__
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(c) Cyanide ion is a good nucleophile and will displace bromide from bromoacetic acid.
(d) Cyanoacetic acid, prepared as in part (c), serves as a convenient precursor to malonic acid.
Hydrolysis of the nitrile substituent converts it to a carboxyl group.
(e) Iodoacetic acid is not prepared directly from acetic acid but is derived by nucleophilic substi-
tution of iodide in bromoacetic acid.
( f ) Two transformations need to be accomplished, H9251 bromination and esterification. The correct
sequence is bromination followed by esterification.
Reversing the order of steps is not appropriate. It must be the carboxylic acid that is subjected
to halogenation because the Hell–Volhard–Zelinsky reaction is a reaction of carboxylic acids,
not esters.
(g) The compound shown is an ylide. It can be prepared from ethyl bromoacetate as shown
The first step is a nucleophilic substitution of bromide by triphenylphosphine. Treatment of
the derived triphenylphosphonium salt with base removes the relatively acidic H9251 proton, form-
ing the ylide. (For a review of ylide formation, refer to Section 17.12.)
(h) Reaction of the ylide formed in part (g) with benzaldehyde gives the desired alkene by a
Wittig reaction.
H11001
Ylide from part (g)
(C
6
H
5
)
3
P CHCO
2
CH
2
CH
3
H11001
Triphenylphosphine
oxide
(C
6
H
5
)
3
PO
H11001
H11002
H11001
Ethyl cinnamate
C
6
H
5
CH CHCO
2
CH
2
CH
3
Benzaldehyde
C
6
H
5
CH
O
H11002
H11001BrCH
2
CO
2
CH
2
CH
3
Ethyl bromoacetate
(C
6
H
5
)
3
P
Triphenyl-
phosphine
(C
6
H
5
)
3
PCH
2
CO
2
CH
2
CH
3
H11001
NaOCH
2
CH
3
Ylide
(C
6
H
5
)
3
P CHCO
2
CH
2
CH
3
H11001
H11002
Br
H11002
BrCH
2
CO
2
CH
2
CH
3
Ethyl bromoacetate
CH
3
CH
2
OH
H
H11001
BrCH
2
CO
2
H
Bromoacetic acid
CH
3
CO
2
H
Acetic acid
Br
2
P
NaI
acetone
Iodoacetic acid
ICH
2
CO
2
H
Bromoacetic acid
BrCH
2
CO
2
H
H
2
O, H
H11001
heat
Malonic acid
HO
2
CCH
2
CO
2
H
Cyanoacetic acid
NCCH
2
CO
2
H
BrCH
2
CO
2
H
Bromoacetic acid
[from part (a)]
NaCN
Na
2
CO
3
, H
2
O
H
H11001
Sodium cyanoacetate
NCCH
2
CO
2
Na
Cyanoacetic acid
NCCH
2
CO
2
H
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 519
__
__
__
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19.22 (a) Carboxylic acids are converted to ethyl esters when they are allowed to stand in ethanol in the
presence of an acid catalyst.
(b) Lithium aluminum hydride, LiAlH
4
, reduces carboxylic acids to primary alcohols. When
LiAlD
4
is used, deuterium is transferred to the carbonyl carbon.
Notice that deuterium is bonded only to carbon. The hydroxyl proton is derived from water,
not from the reducing agent.
(c) In the presence of a catalytic amount of phosphorus, bromine reacts with carboxylic acids to
yield the corresponding H9251-bromo derivative.
(d) Alkyl fluorides are not readily converted to Grignard reagents, and so it is the bromine sub-
stituent that is attacked by magnesium.
(e) Cyano substituents are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups in the presence of acid catalysts.
H
2
O, acetic acid
H
2
SO
4
, heat
CH
2
CO
2
H
Cl
m-Chlorophenylacetic
acid (61%)
CH
2
CN
Cl
m-Chlorobenzyl
cyanide
CF
3
MgBr
Mg
diethyl ether
CF
3
Br
m-Bromo(trifluoromethyl)-
benzene
1. CO
2
2. H
3
O
H11001
CF
3
CO
2
H
m-(Trifluoromethyl)-
benzoic acid
Cyclohexanecarboxylic
acid
CO
2
H
Br
2
P
1-Bromocyclohexanecarboxylic
acid (96%)
CO
2
H
Br
Cyclopropanecarboxylic
acid
COH
O
1-Cyclopropyl-1,1-
dideuteriomethanol
(75%)
COH
D
D
1. LiAlD
4
, diethyl ether
2. H
2
O
H11001
Ethanol
CH
3
CH
2
OH H11001
Water
H
2
O
(E)-2-Methyl-2-butenoic acid
C
H
3
C CH
3
CO
2
HH
C
Ethyl (E)-2-methyl-2-butenoate
(74–80%)
O
C
H
3
C CH
3
COCH
2
CH
3
H
C
H
2
SO
4
520 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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( f ) The carboxylic acid function plays no part in this reaction; free-radical addition of hydrogen
bromide to the carbon–carbon double bond occurs.
Recall that hydrogen bromide adds to alkenes in the presence of peroxides with a regioselec-
tivity opposite to that of Markovnikov’s rule.
19.23 (a) The desired product and the starting material have the same carbon skeleton, and so all that is
required is a series of functional group transformations. Recall that, as seen in Problem 19.17,
a carboxylic acid may be prepared by oxidation of the corresponding primary alcohol. The
needed alcohol is available from the appropriate alkene.
(b) The target molecule contains one more carbon than the starting material, and so a carbon–
carbon bond-forming step is indicated. Two approaches are reasonable; one proceeds by way
of nitrile formation and hydrolysis, the other by carboxylation of a Grignard reagent. In either
case the key intermediate is 1-bromo-2-methylpropane.
The desired alkyl bromide may be prepared by free-radical addition of hydrogen bromide to
2-methylpropene.
Another route to the alkyl bromide utilizes the alcohol prepared in part (a).
Conversion of the alkyl bromide to the desired acid is then carried out as follows:
1-Bromo-2-methylpropane
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
Br
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
CN
3-Methylbutanoic acid
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
CO
2
H
H
2
O, H
H11001
heat
KCN
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
MgBr
3-Methylbutanoic acid
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
CO
2
H
Mg
diethyl ether
1. CO
2
2. H
3
O
H11001
2-Methyl-1-propanol
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
OH
1-Bromo-2-
methylpropane
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
Br
PBr
3
or HBr
tert-Butyl
alcohol
(CH
3
)
3
COH
2-Methylpropene
CH
2
(CH
3
)
2
C
H
H11001
heat
1-Bromo-2-
methylpropane
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
Br
HBr
peroxides
3-Methylbutanoic acid
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
CO
2
H
1-Bromo-2-
methylpropane
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
Br
tert-Butyl
alcohol
(CH
3
)
3
COH
2-Methylpropene
CH
2
(CH
3
)
2
C
H
H11001
heat
1. B
2
H
6
2. H
2
O
2
, HO
H11002 (CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
OH
2-Methyl-1-propanol
(CH
3
)
2
CHCO
2
H
2-Methylpropanoic
acid
K
2
Cr
2
O
7
H
2
SO
4
, H
2
O
10-Undecenoic acid
CH(CH
2
)
8
CO
2
HH
2
C BrCH
2
CH
2
(CH
2
)
8
CO
2
H
11-Bromoundecanoic acid
(66–70%)
HBr
benzoyl peroxide
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 521
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(c) Examining the target molecule reveals that it contains two more carbon atoms than the indi-
cated starting material, suggesting use of ethylene oxide in a two-carbon chain-extension
process.
This suggests the following sequence of steps:
(d) This synthesis requires extending a carbon chain by two carbon atoms. One way to form
dicarboxylic acids is by hydrolysis of dinitriles.
This suggests the following sequence of steps:
(e) The desired alcohol cannot be prepared directly from the nitrile. It is available, however, by
lithium aluminum hydride reduction of the carboxylic acid obtained by hydrolysis of the
nitrile.
heat
H
2
O, H
H11001
2. H
2
O
1. LiAlH
4
3-Phenylbutanenitrile
CH
3
CHCH
2
CN
C
6
H
5
3-Phenyl-1-butanol
CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
2
OH
C
6
H
5
3-Phenylbutanoic acid
CH
3
CHCH
2
COH
C
6
H
5
O
1. LiAlH
4
2. H
2
O
HO
2
C(CH
2
)
3
CO
2
H
Pentanedioic acid
HOCH
2
(CH
2
)
3
CH
2
OH
1,5-Pentanediol
BrCH
2
(CH
2
)
3
CH
2
Br
1,5-Dibromopentane
NCCH
2
(CH
2
)
3
CH
2
CN
1,5-Dicyanopentane
HO
2
CCH
2
(CH
2
)
3
CH
2
CO
2
H H11013 HO
2
C(CH
2
)
5
CO
2
H
Heptanedioic acid
KCN
HBr or
PBr
3
H
2
O, H
H11001
heat
HO
2
C(CH
2
)
5
CO
2
H NC(CH
2
)
5
CN Br(CH
2
)
5
Br
HBr
Mg
(CH
3
)
3
COH
tert-Butyl
alcohol
(CH
3
)
3
CBr
2-Bromo-2-
methylpropane
(CH
3
)
3
CMgBr
tert-Butylmagnesium
bromide
(CH
3
)
3
CCH
2
CH
2
OH
3,3-Dimethyl-1-
butanol
(CH
3
)
3
CCH
2
CO
2
H
3,3-Dimethylbutanoic
acid
K
2
Cr
2
O
7
, H
H11001
H
2
O
2. H
3
O
H11001
H
2
CCH
2
O
1.
(CH
3
)
3
CCH
2
CO
2
HCH
2
CH
2
OH(CH
3
)
3
C (CH
3
)
3
CMgX H11001 H
2
CCH
2
O
522 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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__
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( f ) In spite of the structural similarity between the starting material and the desired product, a
one-step transformation cannot be achieved.
Instead, recall that H9251-bromo acids are prepared from carboxylic acids by the Hell–
Volhard–Zelinsky reaction:
The problem now simplifies to one of preparing cyclopentanecarboxylic acid from
cyclopentyl bromide. Two routes are possible:
The Grignard route is better; it is a “one-pot” transformation. Converting the secondary bro-
mide to a nitrile will be accompanied by elimination, and the procedure requires two separate
operations.
(g) In this case the halogen substituent is present at the H9252 carbon rather than the H9251 carbon atom of
the carboxylic acid. The starting material, a H9252-chloro unsaturated acid, can lead to the desired
carbon skeleton by a Diels–Alder reaction.
The required trans stereochemistry is a consequence of the stereospecificity of the
Diels–Alder reaction.
H11001
1,3-Butadiene
CO
2
H
Cl H
H
C
C
(E)-3-Chloropropenoic
acid
CO
2
H
Cl
trans-2-Chloro-4-
cyclohexenecarboxylic acid
CO
2
H
Cl
H11001
CO
2
H
Cl H
H
C
C
CO
2
H
Cl
Br
Cyclopentyl
bromide
MgBr
Cyclopentylmagnesium
bromide
CO
2
H
Cyclopentanecarboxylic
acid
Mg
diethyl ether
1. CO
2
2. H
3
O
H11001
Br
Cyclopentyl
bromide
CN
Cyclopentyl
cyanide
CO
2
H
Cyclopentanecarboxylic
acid
KCN
H
2
O, H
H11001
heat
CO
2
H
Br
1-Bromocyclopentane-
carboxylic acid
CO
2
H
H
Cyclopentane-
carboxylic acid
Br
2
P
Br
Cyclopentyl
bromide
CO
2
H
Br
1-Bromocyclopentane-
carboxylic acid
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 523
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Hydrogenation of the double bond of the Diels–Alder adduct gives the required product.
(h) The target molecule is related to the starting material by the retrosynthesis
The necessary bromine substituent can be introduced by electrophilic substitution in the acti-
vated aromatic ring of m-xylene.
The aryl bromide cannot be converted to a carboxylic acid by way of the corresponding nitrile,
because aryl bromides are not reactive toward nucleophilic substitution. The Grignard route is
necessary.
(i) The relationship of the target molecule to the starting material
requires that there be two synthetic operations: oxidation of the methyl group and nitration of
the ring. The orientation of the nitro group requires that nitration must follow oxidation of the
p-Chlorotoluene
CH
3
Cl
4-Chloro-3-nitrobenzoic
acid
CO
2
H
NO
2
Cl
2,4-Dimethylbenzoic
acid
1. Mg, diethyl ether
2. CO
2
3. H
3
O
H11001
CO
2
H
CH
3
CH
3
1-Bromo-2,4-
dimethylbenzene
Br
CH
3
CH
3
m-Xylene
Br
CH
3
CH
3
1-Bromo-2,4-
dimethylbenzene
CH
3
CH
3
Br
2
acetic acid
(or Br
2
, FeBr
3
)
2,4-Dimethylbenzoic
acid
CO
2
H
CH
3
CH
3
Br
CH
3
CH
3
m-Xylene
CH
3
CH
3
H
2
Pt
CO
2
H
Cl
trans-2-Chloro-4-
cyclohexenecarboxylic acid
CO
2
H
Cl
trans-2-Chlorocyclo-
hexanecarboxylic acid
524 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
__
__
__
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methyl group of the starting material
Nitration of p-chlorobenzoic acid gives the desired product, because the directing effects of
the chlorine (ortho, para) and the carboxyl (meta) groups reinforce each other.
( j) The desired synthetic route becomes apparent when it is recognized that the Z alkene
stereoisomer may be obtained from an alkyne, which, in turn, is available by carboxylation of
the anion derived from the starting material.
The desired reaction sequence is
Hydrogenation of the carbon–carbon triple bond of 2-butynoic acid over the Lindlar catalyst
converts this compound to the Z isomer of 2-butenoic acid.
19.24 (a) Only the cis stereoisomer of 4-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid is capable of forming a
lactone, as can be seen in the following drawings or with a molecular model. The most stable
conformation of the starting hydroxy acid is a chair conformation; however, in the lactone, the
cyclohexane ring adopts a boat conformation.
cis-4-Hydroxycyclohexane
carboxylic acid
(boat conformation)
C
O
OH
OH
Lactone
C
O
O
cis-4-Hydroxycyclohexane
carboxylic acid
(chair conformation)
HOC
OH
O
H
2
, Lindlar Pd
CH
3
C CCO
2
H
2-Butynoic acid (Z)-2-Butenoic acid
CC
H
3
C
HH
CO
2
H
NaNH
2
NH
3
1. CO
2
2. H
3
O
H11001
CH
3
CCH
Propyne
CH
3
C CCO
2
H
2-Butynoic acid
CH
3
C CNa
Propynylsodium
CH
3
C CCO
2
HCC
H
3
C
HH
CO
2
H
CO
2
H11001CH
3
CC
H11002
HNO
3
H
2
SO
4
CO
2
H
Cl
p-Chlorobenzoic
acid
CO
2
H
NO
2
Cl
4-Chloro-3-
nitrobenzoic acid
K
2
Cr
2
O
7
, H
2
SO
4
H
2
O
CH
3
Cl
p-Chlorotoluene
CO
2
H
Cl
p-Chlorobenzoic acid
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 525
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(b) As in part (a), lactone formation is possible only when the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups
are cis.
Although the most stable conformation of cis-3-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid has both
substituents equatorial and is unable to close to a lactone, the diaxial orientation is accessible
and is capable of lactone formation.
Neither conformation of trans-3-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid has the substituents
close enough to each other to form an unstrained lactone.
19.25 (a) The most stable conformation of formic acid is the one that has both hydrogens anti.
A plausible explanation is that the syn conformation is destabilized by lone-pair repulsions.
(b) A dipole moment of zero can mean that the molecule has a center of symmetry. One structure
that satisfies this requirement is characterized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between
the two carboxyl groups and an anti relationship between the two carbonyls.
CC
O
H
O
O
H
O
Intramolecular hydrogen bond
Intramolecular hydrogen bond
Anti
O
H
C
H
O
Syn
C
H
O
O
H
Repulsion between
lone pairs
C
H
O
H
O
Syn: less stable
conformation of
formic acid
C
H
O O
H
Anti: more stable
conformation of
formic acid
trans-3-Hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid: lactone formation impossible
CO
2
H
OH
CO
2
H
HO
cis-3-Hydroxycyclo-
hexanecarboxylic acid
CO
2
HHO
Lactone
O
O
CO
2
H
HO
526 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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__
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Another possibility is the following structure; it also has a center of symmetry and an anti re-
lationship between the two carbonyls.
Other centrosymmetric structures can be drawn; these have the two hydrogen atoms out of the
plane of the carboxyl groups, however, and are less likely to occur, in view of the known pla-
narity of carboxyl groups. Structures in which the carbonyl groups are syn to each other do not
have a center of symmetry.
(c) The anion formed on dissociation of o-hydroxybenzoic acid can be stabilized by an intra-
molecular hydrogen bond.
(d) Ascorbic acid is relatively acidic because ionization of its enolic hydroxyl at C-3 gives an
anion that is stabilized by resonance in much the same way as a carboxylate ion; the negative
charge is shared by two oxygens.
19.26 Dicarboxylic acids in which both carboxyl groups are attached to the same carbon undergo ready
thermal decarboxylation to produce the enol form of an acid.
This enol yields a mixture of cis- and trans-3-chlorocyclobutanecarboxylic acid. The two products
are stereoisomers.
H11001
C
OH
OH
Cl
CO
2
H
H
H
Cl
HO
2
C
H
H
Cl
cis-3-Chlorocyclobutane-
carboxylic acid
trans-3-Chlorocyclobutane-
carboxylic acid
H11001 CO
2
C
OH
OH
Cl
heat
C
C
Cl
O O
O
OH
H
Compound A
Acidic proton in
ascorbic acid
OHHO
O
O ONaHCO
3
O OH
O
H11002
OHO
O
H11002
HOCH
2
OHH
HOCH
2
OHH
HOCH
2
OHH
O
O
C
O
H
O
H11002
o-Hydroxybenzoate ion
(stabilized by hydrogen
bonding)
O
OCH
3
o-Methoxybenzoate ion
(hydrogen bonding is
not possible)
C
O
H11002
C
H
C
H
O
O
O
O
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 527
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19.27 Examination of the molecular formula C
14
H
26
O
2
reveals that the compound has an index of hydrogen
deficiency of 2. Because we are told that the compound is a carboxylic acid, one of these elements
of unsaturation must be a carbon–oxygen double bond. The other must be a carbon–carbon double
bond because the compound undergoes cleavage on ozonolysis. Examining the products of ozonol-
ysis serves to locate the position of the double bond.
The starting acid must be 5-tetradecenoic acid. The stereochemistry of the double bond is not re-
vealed by these experiments.
19.28 Hydrogenation of the starting material is expected to result in reduction of the ketone carbonyl while
leaving the carboxyl group unaffected. Because the isolated product lacks a carboxyl group, how-
ever, that group must react in some way. The most reasonable reaction is intramolecular esterifica-
tion to form a H9253-lactone.
19.29 Compound A is a cyclic acetal and undergoes hydrolysis in aqueous acid to produce acetaldehyde,
along with a dihydroxy carboxylic acid.
The dihydroxy acid that is formed in this step cyclizes to the H9254-lactone mevalonolactone.
19.30 Compound A is a H9254-lactone. To determine its precursor, disconnect the ester linkage to a hydroxy
acid.
Compound A
O
HH
CH
3
O
HH
CH
3
CO
2
H
OH
3,5-Dihydroxy-3-
methylpentanoic acid
CH
3
CH
2
CO
2
H
HO OH
HO
HO
CH
2
O
CH
3
OH
Mevalonolactone
O
CH
3
OH
O
H11013
Compound A 3,5-Dihydroxy-3-methylpentanoic
acid
Acetaldehyde
H
3
O
H11001
O O
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CO
2
H
CH
3
CH
2
CO
2
H
HO OH
O
CH
3
CHH11001
Levulinic acid 4-Hydroxypentanoic
acid (not isolated)
4-Pentanolide
(C
5
H
8
O
2
)
H
2
, Ni
O
OH
3
C
CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
2
COH
OH
O
CH
3
CCH
2
CH
2
COH
OO
CH
3
(CH
2
)
7
CH HC(CH
2
)
3
CO
2
H
Cleavage by ozone
occurs here.
Nonanal 5-Oxopentanoic acid
CH
3
(CH
2
)
7
CH CH(CH
2
)
3
CO
2
H
1. O
3
2. H
2
O, Zn
H11001
O O
528 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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__
__
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The precursor has the same carbon skeleton as the designated starting material. All that is necessary
is to hydrogenate the double bond of the alkynoic acid to the cis alkene. This can be done by using
the Lindlar catalyst. Cyclization of the hydroxy acid to the lactone is spontaneous.
19.31 Hydration of the double bond can occur in two different directions:
(a) The achiral isomer is citric acid.
(b) The other isomer, isocitric acid, has two stereogenic centers (marked with an asterisk*). Iso-
citric acid has the constitution
With two stereogenic centers, there are 2
2
, or four, stereoisomers represented by this constitu-
tion. The one that is actually formed in this enzyme-catalyzed reaction is the 2R,3S isomer.
19.32 Carboxylic acid protons give signals in the range H9254 10–12 ppm. A signal in this region suggests the
presence of a carboxyl group but tells little about its environment. Thus, in assigning structures to
compounds A, B, and C, the most useful data are the chemical shifts of the protons other than the
carboxyl protons. Compare the three structures:
The proton that is diagnostic of structure in formic acid is bonded to a carbonyl group; it is an
aldehyde proton. Typical chemical shifts of aldehyde protons are 8–10 ppm, and therefore formic
acid is compound C.
CH
O
Compound C
H9254 8.0 ppm
OH
H9254 11.4 ppm
CC
HO
2
C
H
CO
2
H
H
HO
2
CCH
2
CO
2
HHCOH
O
Malonic acidMaleic acidFormic acid
HO
2
CCHCHCH
2
CO
2
H
OH
CO
2
H
*
*
Isocitric acid
HO
2
CCH
2
CCH
2
CO
2
H
OH
CO
2
H
Citric acid has no stereogenic centers.
CC
H
HO
2
C
CH
2
CO
2
H
CO
2
H
H
2
O
HO
2
CCH
2
CCH
2
CO
2
H
OH
CO
2
H
H11001 HO
2
CCHCHCH
2
CO
2
H
OH
CO
2
H
5-Hydroxy-2-hexynoic
acid
CH
3
CHCH
2
C CCO
2
H
OH
H
2
Lindlar Pd
(Not isolated) Compound A
CC
H
2
C
H
CO
2
H
H
CH
3
CHOH
CH
3
O
O
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 529
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__
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The critical signal in maleic acid is that of the vinyl protons, which normally is found in the range
H9254 5–7 ppm. Maleic acid is compound B.
Compound A is malonic acid. Here we have a methylene group bearing two carbonyl substituents.
These methylene protons are more shielded than the aldehyde proton of formic acid or the vinyl pro-
tons of maleic acid.
19.33 Compounds A and B both exhibit
1
H NMR absorptions in the region H9254 11–12 ppm characteristic of
carboxylic acids. The formula C
4
H
8
O
3
suggests an index of hydrogen deficiency of 1, accounted for
by the carbonyl of the carboxyl group. Compound A has the triplet–quartet splitting indicative of an
ethyl group, and compound B has two triplets, suggesting —CH
2
CH
2
—.
19.34 (a) The formula of compound A (C
3
H
5
ClO
2
) has an index of hydrogen deficiency of 1—the
carboxyl group. Only two structures are possible:
Compound A is determined to be 3-chloropropanoic acid on the basis of its
1
H NMR spec-
trum, which shows two triplets at H9254 2.9 and H9254 3.8 ppm.
Compound A cannot be 2-chloropropanoic acid, because that compound’s
1
H NMR spectrum
would show a three-proton doublet for the methyl group and a one-proton quartet for the
methine proton.
(b) The formula of compound B (C
9
H
9
NO
4
) corresponds to an index of hydrogen deficiency of 6.
The presence of an aromatic ring, as evidenced by the
1
H NMR absorptions at H9254 7.5 and
C
H9254 11.9 ppmTriplet H9254 2.9 ppm
Compound A
CH
2
ClCH
2
O
OH
Triplet H9254 3.8 ppm
3-Chloropropanoic acid
ClCH
2
CH
2
C
O O
OH
2-Chloropropanoic acid
and CH
3
CHC
OH
Cl
CH
3
CH
2
OCH
2
COH
4.1 ppm (s)
11.1 ppm (s)3.6 ppm (q)
1.3 ppm (t)
Compound A
CH
3
OCH
2
CH
2
COH
2.6 ppm (t)
11.3 ppm (s)3.7 ppm (t)
3.4 ppm (s)
Compound B
OO
HO
2
CCH
2
CO
2
H
H9254 12.1 ppmH9254 3.2 ppm
Compound A
CC
H
HO
2
C CO
2
H
H
H9254 6.3 ppm
H9254 12.4 ppm
Compound B
530 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
__
__
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8.2 ppm, accounts for four of the unsaturations. The appearance of the aromatic protons as a
pair of doublets with a total area of 4 suggests a para-disubstituted ring.
That compound B is a carboxylic acid is evidenced by the singlet (area H11005 1) at H9254 12.1 ppm.
The remaining
1
H NMR signals—a quartet at H9254 3.9 ppm (1H) and a doublet at H9254 1.6 ppm
(3H)—suggest the fragment CH—CH
3
. All that remains of the molecular formula is —NO
2
.
Combining this information identifies compound B as 2-(4-nitrophenyl)propanoic acid.
SELF-TEST
PART A
A-1. Provide an acceptable IUPAC name for each of the following:
A-2. Both of the following compounds may be converted into 4-phenylbutanoic acid by one
or more reaction steps. Give the reagents and conditions necessary to carry out these con-
versions.
A-3. The species whose structure is shown is an intermediate in an esterification reaction. Write
the complete, balanced equation for this process.
C
6
H
5
CH
2
COCH
2
CH
3
OH
OH
C
6
H
5
CH
2
CH
2
CH(CO
2
H)
2
C
6
H
5
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
Br
(Two methods)
CH
3
CHCHCO
2
H(c)
Br
CH
2
CH
3
CO
2
H(b)
C
6
H
5
CHCHCH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H(a)
CH
3
CH
3
O
2
N CHCO
2
H
CH
3
2-(4-Nitrophenyl)propanoic acid
(compound B)
XY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 531
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A-4. Give the correct structures for compounds A through C in the following reactions:
A-5. Give the missing reagent(s) and the missing compound in each of the following:
A-6. Identify the carboxylic acid (C
4
H
7
BrO
2
) having the
1
H NMR spectrum consisting of
H9254 1.1 ppm, 3H (triplet)
H9254 2.0 ppm, 2H (pentet)
H9254 4.2 ppm, 1H (triplet)
H9254 12.1 ppm, 1H (singlet)
A-7. Draw the structure of the tetrahedral intermediate in the esterification of formic acid with
1-butanol.
A-8. Write a mechanism for the esterification reaction shown.
PART B
B-1. Which of the following is a correct IUPAC name for the compound shown?
(a) 1,1,3-Triethylhexanoic acid
(b) 2,2,4-Triethylhexanoic acid
(c) 3,5-Diethyl-3-heptylcarboxylic acid
(d) 3,5,5-Triethyl-6-hexanoic acid
(CH
3
CH
2
)
2
CCH
2
CH(CH
2
CH
3
)
2
CO
2
H
H11001
H
H11001
CH
3
OHCH
3
COH
O
H11001CH
3
CO
2
CH
3
H
2
O
(d)?
?NaCN
HCl
CH
3
CH
2
CHCOH
O
OH
CH
3
CH
2
CH
O
(c)?
?
NaSCH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CHCOH
O
SCH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
COH
O
(b
? PCC
CH
2
Cl
2
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
COH
O
Br CO
2
H(a)?
?
1. CO
2
2. H
3
O
H11001
CC
6
H
5
CCH(CH
3
)
2
CO
2
O
H11001(b)
heat
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
CH
2
CO
2
HAB(a)
KI
acetone
Br
2
P
532 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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B-2. Rank the following substances in order of decreasing acid strength (strongest A weakest):
(a)4H11022 2 H11022 1 H11022 3(c)3H11022 1 H11022 2 H11022 4
(b)1H11022 2 H11022 4 H11022 d)2H11022 4 H11022 1 H11022 3
B-3. Which of the following compounds will undergo decarboxylation on heating?
(a) 2 and 3 (c) 3 only
(b) 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 4
B-4. Which of the following is least likely to form a lactone?
(a)
(c)
(b)(d)
B-5. Compare the two methods shown for the preparation of carboxylic acids:
Method 1:
Method 2:
Which one of the following statements correctly describes this conversion?
(a) Both method 1 and method 2 are appropriate for carrying out this conversion.
(b) Neither method 1 nor method 2 is appropriate for carrying out this conversion.
(c) Method 1 will work well, but method 2 is not appropriate.
(d) Method 2 will work well, but method 1 is not appropriate.
Br CO
2
H
RBr RCN RCO
2
H
NaCN
H
2
O, HCl
heat
RBr RMgBr RCO
2
H
Mg
diethyl ether
1. CO
2
2. H
3
O
H11001
OH
CO
2
H
OH
CH
2
CO
2
H
OH
CO
2
H
CH
3
CHCH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
OH
12 34
O
CO
2
CH
3
CO
2
H
CO
2
H
CO
2
H
O
O
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CO
2
H
1
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
32
CHCO
2
HCH
3
CH
4
CCO
2
HCH
3
C
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B-6. Which one of the following is not an intermediate in the generally accepted mechanism for
the reaction shown?
B-7. Identify compound C in the following sequence:
B-8. What is the final product (B) of this sequence?
(e) None of these
CH
2
CO
2
H
(d)
CH
3
CO
2
H
(b)
CO
2
H
(c)
CH
3
CO
2
H
H11001
para
(a)
Br
2
light
CH
3
AB
1. KCN
2. H
3
O
H11001
, heat
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH C
OH
OH
(b)
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
CH
O
(c)
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
COH
O
(d)
(CH
3
)
2
CHCCH
2
OH
O
(e)
(CH
3
)
2
CHCCH
3
O
(a)
(CH
3
)
2
CHCH
2
C compound A compound B compound CN
HCl, H
2
O
heat
PCC
CH
2
Cl
2
1. LiAlH
4
2. H
2
O
CF
3
COH
OH
H11001
(a)
CF
3
C OCH(CH
3
)
2
OH
OH H
H11001
(b)
CF
3
C OCH(CH
3
)
2
OH
OH
(c)
CF
3
C OCH(CH
3
)
2
O
OH
H11002
(d)
CF
3
C OCH(CH
3
)
2
OH
OH
2
H11001
(e)
H11001CF
3
COH
O
CH
3
CHCH
3
OH
H
2
OH11001CF
3
COCHCH
3
CH
3
O
H
2
SO
4
534 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
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B-9. Which one of the following undergoes decarboxylation (loses carbon dioxide) most readily
on being heated?
(a)(d)
(b)(e)
(c)
B-10. Which of the compounds in the previous problem yields a H9254-lactone on being reduced with
sodium borohydride?
B-11. What is compound Z?
(a)(d)
(b e)
(c) CH
3
CH
2
CHC N
OCH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
COCH
2
CH
3
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH(OCH
2
CH
3
)
2
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH NOCH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH CHCOH
O
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
Br X
NaCN
Y
H
3
O
H11001
heat
Z
CH
3
CH
2
OH
H
H11001
O
OHO
O
OHO
O
O
OH
HO
O
OHO
O
O
OH
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS 535
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