I. Molecular Properties (25 points)

Circle the one choice that fits the described property.

Least reactive to nucleophilic substitution by MeO^-

Strongest base

Best acceptor for Michael (1,4) addition

Highest boiling point

Strongest acid

II. Chemical Transformations (28 points)

Fill in the boxes with the appropriate educts, reagents, or products. A normal workup is assumed. Be sure to show stereochemistry if necessary to distinguish isomers.

III. Organic Logic and Analysis (20 points)

Consider the following transformation of a g-aminoester to a lactam:

a. Write a step-by-step mechanism for the formation of the lactam.

b. On the previous page, circle the most basic atom (i.e., the site that is most readily protonated by an acid) in the starting material and in the product. If it is a different atom in the product than in the starting material, explain why a change has occurred.

A nitrogen lone pair is nearly always more basic than an oxygen lone pair of similar hybridization, and the amine has an sp³ lone pair (less s character) while the carbonyl lone pairs are, by resonance, somewhere between sp² and sp³ (more s character). Thus, the amine nitrogen is the most basic atom in the starting material. In the amide, on the other hand, the amino group donates substantial lone pair density to the carbonyl via conjugation (or resonance) as illustrated by the below zwitterionic resonance structure. Thus, in the product, the amide oxygen is the most basic atom.

c. This reaction is, in fact, a reversible equilibrium. What drives this reaction to the right?

The most obvious answer is entropy (two molecules are made from one). In addition, amides tend to be thermochemically more stable than esters (because of the greater importance of the zwitterionic resonance structure for amides than esters) but that might be offset here by slight ring strain.

IV. Multistep Synthesis (27 points possible)

On the next page is a list of 8 reagents (feel free to tear it off). You will need 6 of these reagents to complete the total synthesis outlined below (2 are not used). Fill in the reagents by letter in the boxes over the reaction arrows. The structures of the starting material, final product, and one intermediate are provided, as is one set of reagents. Draw the correct structures for all other intermediates in the boxes provided. Certain spectral clues are listed under some of the structure boxes. A normal workup is assumed for all reactions.

REAGENTS FOR PROBLEM 4: