Sugars, being polyhydroxylic compounds, undergo reactions characteristic of alcohols. In one of the later steps in glycolysis (the metabolism of glucose), one of the glucose metabolites with a remaining hydroxy group, 2-phosphoglyceric acid, is converted into 2-phosphoenolpyruvic acid. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme enolase in the presence of a Lewis acid such as Mg2+.
(a) How would you classify this reaction?
(b) What is the possible role of the Lewis acidic metal ion?

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OPO OPO2 Enolase, Mg HOCH.-CH-COOH → CH,-C CO2H 2-Phosphoglyceric acid 2-Phosphoenolpyruvic acid