Draw the organic molecule(s) which is(are) formed in the following reaction. Do not include molecules like H?O or HCl. (You have 3 chances until the answer will be given; you have already tried 0 times) H HC H+/heat OH + H?C OH H? H H Draw only one molecule in each drawing box. If need more compounds for your answer, click this button ADD DRAWING BOX Compound #1
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The given reaction involves two molecules of 3-hydroxybutanoic acid undergoing a condensation reaction in the presence of acid and heat. This is a classic esterification process, where the hydroxyl (-OH) group from one molecule reacts with the carboxyl (-COOH) group of another, resulting in the formation of an ester bond.
Reaction Mechanism and Product Formation
Under acidic conditions and elevated temperature, the carboxyl group is first protonated, increasing its electrophilicity. The hydroxyl group of the second molecule then performs a nucleophilic attack on the carboxyl carbon, leading to the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. Through subsequent proton transfers and elimination steps, water is expelled, finalizing the formation of an ester.
Predicted Organic Molecule
The resulting compound is a dimeric ester, where the two 3-hydroxybutanoic acid molecules are linked through an ester bond. The structure of the formed ester is as follows:
H₃C-CH-CH₂-COO-CH₂-CH-CH₃
This ester linkage connects the carboxyl carbon of one molecule with the oxygen of the hydroxyl group from the second molecule. The reaction effectively removes water, leaving behind the organic ester.
Explanation of Product Stability
Ester formation under acidic conditions ensures high stability due to the resonance stabilization of the ester functional group. Additionally, the molecular arrangement prevents steric hindrance, making this product the most favored outcome. Since the reaction does not yield additional small molecules such as H₂O or HCl, the focus is strictly on drawing the organic ester product.
You should draw the resulting ester in the given drawing box labeled Compound #1. If the reaction yields multiple products or additional molecular species, use the ADD DRAWING BOX feature to include them.
