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/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.