Questions: Which is the major organic product formed by this reaction? Studying the summary chart in Lesson VI.3.5 will help to correctly determining the products. A) C) B) D) E) No net reaction or none of these is a major product

Which is the major organic product formed by this reaction? Studying the summary chart in Lesson VI.3.5 will help to correctly determining the products.
A)
C)
B)
D)
E) No net reaction or none of these is a major product

Transcript text: Which is the major organic product formed by this reaction? Studying the summary chart in Lesson VI.3.5 will help to correctly determining the products. A) C) B) D) E) No net reaction or none of these is a major product

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Reactants and Conditions

The reactant is a molecule with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbonyl group (C=O), forming a carboxylic acid. The conditions include the presence of ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH) and a catalytic amount of acid (H+).

Step 2: Determine the Reaction Type

The reaction involves a carboxylic acid and ethylene glycol in the presence of an acid catalyst. This setup is typical for the formation of a cyclic acetal or ketal, specifically a cyclic ester known as a lactone.

Step 3: Predict the Major Product

Given the reactants and conditions, the carboxylic acid will react with ethylene glycol to form a five-membered cyclic ester (lactone). The hydroxyl group of the carboxylic acid will react with one of the hydroxyl groups of ethylene glycol, forming a ring structure and releasing water.