Rules of the Day 2-25-08

Click here for a copy of the mechanism sheet used in lecture today.

1. The haloform reaction converts methyl ketones to carboxylates. The mechanism is the interesting part, involving enolate formation in base, three sequential replacements of H with Br, then then attack of OH- on the carbonyl that leads to loss of -CBr3 (Mechanism B).

2. Diazomethane reacts with carboxylic acids to give methyl esters in very high yield, driven by the formation of N2.

Homework: Continue Working on Homework Problem Set 5. It will be due before class next Wednesday, February 27. Reading: Sections 18.1-18.4, Problems in Book: 18.1-18.5, 18.12, 18.13 You will not turn these in but they are very helpful to PREPARE for the next lecture.