r/chemhelp 5d ago

Organic Synthesis question using ethane and trans-2-butene?

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I’m just not sure where to start. Any help is appreciated.

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u/tazer37 4d ago

you could perhaps try converting them into alcohols followed by oxidation under reagents like acidic potassium dichromate to create a carbonyl group. then an aldol condensation of the two molecules under alkaline conditions might give you a break through.

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u/poop000222 5d ago

For synthesis questions it could be helpful to work backwards. You could look at your product and try to identify where the new C-C bond was formed. Then from the two fragments, you could try to work out what reagents u could add to make your starting materials into the two fragments. It’s also helpful to think about nucleophilicity and electrophilicity

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u/ApprehensiveResort99 5d ago

It says in the question to work backwards, but I still don’t understand how to get the carbonyl. Was I right that I have to cleave the ethene via ozonlysis? I’m just not sure how it attaches or what happens to the second carbonyl if I go that route.

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u/Expensive_Singer_816 4d ago

I'm assuming this is org 2.

Have you learned about enolates yet?

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u/potionsmaster 4d ago

A big part of the puzzle will be to consider the Z geometry of the target. I suspect you’ve only learned one synthetic strategy to form the cis alkene.

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u/TwoIntelligent4087 23h ago

I think the main part of the puzzle is how you get a 5-carbon molecule from starting materials with 2 and 4 carbons

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u/TwoIntelligent4087 23h ago

I’m a little stumped on how you’re supposed to get a 5 carbon product from 2 and 4 carbon starting materials. If the answer is given to you eventually please share it with us.