- #1
Saitama
- 4,243
- 93
Homework Statement
(see attachment)
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
It looks to me a type of Claisen condensation but i did not realize it until i checked my book.
Before checking the book, i tried to do it by thinking on what is given in the question. We have a ethoxide ion here which acts as a base. It will probably abstract an α-hydrogen but from where? We have a ketone and an ester and both have acidic α-hydrogens. Please help me in understanding that from where the α-hydrogen is abstracted.
I have one more question (this may be a stupid one like the one above), can ethoxide ion directly attack carbonyl group present in any of the reactant? This would lead to breaking of double between carbon and oxygen towards oxygen but if i continue with this, i reach nowhere to the answer.