Day 38 - T-Minus

Okay, we're officially 6 days out from the midterm.

I've got seven problem sets ready to finish in the next 2 days, and they've all been uploaded to my dropbox file under the folder "Chapter 26" (answers included). For direct links, see below:

1. Aldol Reactions
2. Claisen Reactions
3. Intramolecular Reactions
4. Enolate Synthesis Problems
5. Condensation Reactions
6. Stork Enamine Synthesis
7. Mechanism Problems

If you're in CHM243, I highly recommend you complete these after you finish reading Chapter 26.

Today, I completed the first two problem sets: Aldol Reactions and Claisen Reactions. I found them pretty good.

What will you learn from problem sets 1 & 2?:

• Aldol Reaction: Enolate attacks an aldehyde or ketone. 
• Neither the aldehyde or ketone have a leaving group, so the resulting molecule undergoes dehydration to produce an enone. 
• Claisen Reaction: Enolate attacks an ester. 
• The ester has a leaving group (an alkoxide) that falls off after the main attack, producing a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound instead of an enone like in the aldol reaction. 
• The base used in Claisen reactions must be the same alkoxide as in the ester, to prevent transesterification. 
• The formation of an intramolecular six membered ring is always favoured over the formation of a five membered ring; if both are possible. 

Cya!