The following questions pertain to the esters shown and their behavior under conditions of the Claisen condensation.

(a) Two of these esters are converted to β-keto esters in good yield on treatment with sodium ethoxide and subsequent acidification of the reaction mixture. Which two are these? Write the structure of the Claisen condensation product of each one.
(b) One ester is capable of being converted to a β-keto ester on treatment with sodium ethoxide, but the amount of β-keto ester that can be isolated after acidification of the reaction mixture is quite small. Which ester is this?
(c) One ester is incapable of reaction under conditions of the Claisen condensation. Which one? Why?

Transcribed Image Text:

CH CH2CH2CH2COCH2CH3 CH CH2CHCOCH2CH CH CHCH COCH2CH CH3 CCOCH2CH CH3 CH3 Ethyl 2,2-dimethylpropanoate Ethyl Ethyl pentanoate Ethyl 2-methylbutanoate 3-methylbutanoate