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Show the reaction mechanism of claisen reaction.
Accepted Answer
The Claisen condensation is a reaction between two esters, or one ester and a ketone, in the presence of a strong base to form a β-ketoester. Here's the general mechanism:
1. Deprotonation: The strong base (usually alkoxide) removes an α-hydrogen from the ester (or ketone). This generates an enolate ion.
2. Nucleophilic Attack: The enolate ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of another ester (or ketone) molecule.
3. Elimination: The alkoxide ion acts as a leaving group, resulting in the formation of a β-ketoester and regeneration of the alkoxide base.
The reaction is often followed by an acid-catalyzed hydrolysis step to yield the final β-ketoacid.
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