A biochemist, Sal Monella, has come to you to ask your assistance in testing a promising biosynthetic hypothesis. She wishes to have two samples of methylsuccinic acid specifically labeled with ¹⁴C as shown in the following structures. The source of the isotope, for financial reasons, is to be the salt Na¹⁴CN. Outline syntheses that will accomplish the desired objective. (*C = ¹⁴C)

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(a) (b) HO-C-CH-CH₂-C-OH | CH3 HO C-CH-CH₂-C-OH T CH3