Author Topic: malonic acid from acetylactone?  (Read 2561 times)

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xxxxx

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malonic acid from acetylactone?
« on: May 03, 2004, 08:35:00 AM »
i can't help but to think that malonic acid (hoocch2cooh) could be formed by reacting acetylactone (ch3coch2coch3) with hypochlorite (naocl or ca(ocl)2). could someone tell me why this would or would not work?

ning

  • Guest
Haloform reaction?
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2004, 10:13:00 PM »
I guess you want to do a halform reaction.

I suspect very much that it won't work very well, though.
Why? Because it is much easier for the base to deprotonate and thereby chlorinate the "center" methylene, between the two carbonyls, rather than the methyls on either side.

Now, if you were to use acetoacetic acid, it might work. Because the base would salt with the acid and reduce its electron withdrawing power. Still, how well this would work is anyone's guess.

It's hard enough to do the haloform reaction on methyl ethyl ketone.


I would greatly appreciate it if you took some more care in writing your posts, and make them careful and clear. Have some compassion for those who will be trying to read and answer them.