Rules of the Day 3-23-07

Click here for today's lecture mechanism sheet

1. There are four new concepts associated with chapter 19. Click on these one at a time to get more information.

A) Reactions favor the formation of weaker bases at equilibrium (provides a motive), so you need to have a Table of pKa values

B) Enolates as nucleophiles

C) Beta-Dicarbonyl species are especially acidic

D) Conjugate addition to alpha,beta unsaturated carbonyl species.

2. A Claisen reaction is an "aldol with esters", also known as Dr. Evil meets an ester. At least 0.5 equivalents of the alkoxide corresponding to the alcohol portion of the ester is used to create an enolate that reacts with another molecule of ester via Mechanism B. For a movie of the Claisen reaction, click here. Claisen reactions are favorable (have a strong motive) because of the last deprotonation step.

Homework: Begin studying for next week's midterm! Read: No new reading Problems: 19.22, 19.23, 19.24, 19.25, 19.31, 19.33.