IChO 1982 · Theory problem 6

Identification of organic compounds A-D from analytical data

A white solid organic acid, A, contains only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. To obtain an approximate value for the molar mass, 10.0 g of the acid were dissolved in water. Crushed ice was added and vigorous shaking caused a decrease in temperature to −2.5 °C. The ice was quickly removed. The mass of the solution was 76.1 g, and its pH value was determined to be 1.4. In a handbook the molar freezing point depression constant for water was found to be 1.86 \(\mathrm{K\,kg\,mol^{-1}}\). A more precise determination of the molar mass of the acid was then carried out. 0.120 g of the acid was titrated with a sodium hydroxide solution with a concentration of 0.100 \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\). Phenolphthalein was used as an indicator, and when 23.4 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) of hydroxide solution was added the indicator turned red.

6.1 Give the molar mass and the structure of acid A.

Liquid B dissolves in water up to 10 %. The pH value of the solution is about 4. B is not easily oxidized, but following the iodoform reaction and subsequent acidification it is oxidized to acid A. 0.10 g of B consumes 1.5 g of iodine.

When B reacts with sodium, hydrogen is evolved and a metal organic compound is formed. The molar mass of B is approximately 100 \(\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

6.2 Write the chemical equation for the iodoform reaction and for the reaction with sodium. For the organic molecules structural formulas should be used.

Compound C in aqueous solution has a conductivity which differs very little from that of pure water. Alkaline hydrolysis of C yields ammonia. 0.120 g of C was treated with hot, dilute sodium hydroxide solution and the gas formed was led into 50.0 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) hydrochloric acid with a concentration of 0.100 \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\). The excess acid was titrated with 10.0 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) sodium hydroxide solution with a concentration of 0.100 \(\mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\).

Acid hydrolysis of C yields carbon dioxide. From the freezing point depression, the molar mass of C is estimated to be between 40 \(\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\) and 70 \(\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

6.3 Give the structure of C. Write reaction equations for both the alkaline and the acid hydrolysis.

If C is allowed to react with the ethyl ester of acid A in the presence of a strong alkaline catalyst, ethanol and compound D are formed. The composition of D is 37.5 % C, 3.1 % H, 21.9 % N, and the reminder is oxygen. The compound is an acid.

6.4 Give the structure for D. Which is the "acid" hydrogen atom? Mark it with * in the structure.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 6.1: A is malonic acid (propanedioic acid), O=C(O)CC(=O)O, with structure \(\ce{HO-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-OH}\). The titration gives \(M=103\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\); its formula mass is approximately \(104\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

  • 6.2: B is acetylacetone (pentane-2,4-dione), CC(=O)CC(C)=O. Its balanced reactions, written in ionic form, are: \[ \ce{CH3-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-CH3 + 6 I2 + 8 OH- -> [O-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-O]^2- + 2 H-C(I)(I)-I + 6 I- + 6 H2O} \] followed by \[ \ce{[O-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-O]^2- + 2 H+ -> HO-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-OH}. \] With sodium: \[ \ce{2 CH3-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-CH3 + 2 Na -> 2 Na+ + 2 [CH3-C(=O)-CH-C(=O)-CH3]^- + H2}. \] In the last equation, the organic anion is shown using its central-carbon anionic resonance contributor.

  • 6.3: C is urea, NC(=O)N, \(M=60.0\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\): \[ \ce{H2N-C(=O)-NH2 + 2 OH- -> CO3^2- + 2 NH3} \] \[ \ce{H2N-C(=O)-NH2 + H2O + 2 H+ -> CO2 + 2 NH4+}. \]

  • 6.4: D is barbituric acid (malonylurea), O=C1CC(=O)NC(=O)N1, with formula \(\ce{C4H4N2O3}\). Mark either hydrogen on the C5 methylene carbon, between two carbonyl groups, with an asterisk. A precise ring description is \[ \ce{-NH-C(=O)-NH-C(=O)-C(H)(H^{*})-C(=O)-}, \] with the final carbonyl carbon bonded back to the first nitrogen. The two methylene hydrogens are equivalent before deprotonation.

Solution

6.1 — Identification and molar mass of A

The mass of water remaining in the solution is \[ m_{\mathrm{water}}=76.1-10.0=66.1\ \mathrm{g} =0.0661\ \mathrm{kg}. \]

First neglect acid dissociation in the explicitly approximate freezing-point determination: \[ \Delta T_f=K_f b. \] Thus \[ b=\frac{2.5}{1.86}=1.34\ \mathrm{mol\,kg^{-1}}, \] and the apparent amount of acid is \[ n_{\mathrm{app}} =(1.34\ \mathrm{mol\,kg^{-1}})(0.0661\ \mathrm{kg}) =0.0888\ \mathrm{mol}. \] Consequently, \[ M_{\mathrm{app}} =\frac{10.0\ \mathrm{g}}{0.0888\ \mathrm{mol}} =112.6\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}} \approx1.1\times10^2\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

The pH corresponds, approximately, to \[ [\ce{H+}]\approx10^{-1.4} =4.0\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}. \] The acid concentration is of order \(1\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}\), so dissociation contributes only a modest fraction of the dissolved particles. Neglecting it is suitable for estimating the number of titratable protons, although an exact correction cannot be calculated from the supplied information.

The amount of hydroxide consumed in the titration is \[ n(\ce{OH-}) =(0.100\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}) (23.4\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{dm^3}) =2.34\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

If each acid molecule consumes \(z\) hydroxide ions, its molar mass is \[ M=z\frac{0.120}{2.34\times10^{-3}} =z(51.3)\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \] Comparison with the cryoscopic estimate gives \[ z\approx\frac{112.6}{51.3}\approx2.2. \] The appropriate integer is therefore two: A is dibasic.

The more precise experimental molar mass is consequently \[ \boxed{ M(A)=\frac{2(0.120)}{2.34\times10^{-3}} =102.6\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}} \approx103\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. } \]

This identifies malonic acid, O=C(O)CC(=O)O: \[ \boxed{\ce{HO-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-OH}}. \] Its formula, \(\ce{C3H4O4}\), gives approximately \(104\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\). Its identification is also confirmed by the reactions of B.

The neutralization is \[ \ce{HO-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-OH + 2 OH- -> [O-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-O]^2- + 2 H2O}. \] The organic product is the malonate dianion, O=C([O-])CC(=O)[O-].

6.2 — Identification and reactions of B

Using \(M(\ce{I2})\approx254\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), \[ n(\ce{I2})=\frac{1.5}{254} =5.9\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \] The approximate amount of B is \[ n(B)\approx\frac{0.10}{100} =1.0\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \] Hence \[ \frac{n(\ce{I2})}{n(B)}\approx5.9\approx6. \]

A methyl ketone group consumes three iodine molecules in the iodoform reaction. Six iodine molecules per molecule of B therefore indicate two methyl ketone groups. Replacing both methyl ketone ends by carboxyl groups must give malonic acid, so B is \[ \boxed{\ce{CH3-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-CH3}}, \] acetylacetone, CC(=O)CC(C)=O. Its formula \(\ce{C5H8O2}\) has molar mass approximately \(100\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), as required.

The double iodoform reaction is \[ \ce{CH3-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-CH3 + 6 I2 + 8 OH- -> [O-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-O]^2- + 2 H-C(I)(I)-I + 6 I- + 6 H2O}. \] The organic products are malonate and iodoform (triiodomethane), IC(I)I. Acidification protonates malonate: \[ \ce{[O-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-O]^2- + 2 H+ -> HO-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-OH}. \]

The predicted iodine consumption is \[ m(\ce{I2}) =\frac{0.10}{100}\times6\times254 =1.52\ \mathrm{g}, \] which agrees with the reported \(1.5\ \mathrm{g}\).

The diketone structure explains resistance to ordinary mild oxidation. Its acidity and reaction with sodium arise from the hydrogens between its two carbonyl groups and from keto–enol tautomerism: \[ \ce{CH3-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-CH3 <=> CH3-C(OH)=CH-C(=O)-CH3}. \] The enol is 4-hydroxypent-3-en-2-one, CC(O)=CC(C)=O; specifying its alkene geometry is unnecessary for these reactions.

Sodium replaces one acidic hydrogen per molecule: \[ \ce{2 CH3-C(=O)-CH2-C(=O)-CH3 + 2 Na -> 2 Na+ + 2 [CH3-C(=O)-CH-C(=O)-CH3]^- + H2}. \]

The salt is sodium acetylacetonate, [Na+].CC(=O)[CH-]C(C)=O. Its acetylacetonate anion, CC(=O)[CH-]C(C)=O, has charge delocalized over the central carbon and both oxygen atoms. The displayed structure and SMILES represent one resonance contributor, rather than this delocalization.

6.3 — Identification and hydrolysis of C

The hydrochloric acid initially contains \[ n_0(\ce{H+}) =(50.0\times10^{-3})(0.100) =5.00\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \] The excess acid contains \[ n_{\mathrm{excess}}(\ce{H+}) =(10.0\times10^{-3})(0.100) =1.00\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Ammonia absorbs one proton per molecule: \[ \ce{NH3 + H+ -> NH4+}. \] Therefore, \[ n(\ce{NH3}) =5.00\times10^{-3}-1.00\times10^{-3} =4.00\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

If one mole of C yields \(r\) moles of ammonia, \[ M(C) =\frac{0.120\,r}{4.00\times10^{-3}} =30.0r\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \] The stated range \(40\)–\(70\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\) permits only \(r=2\), giving \[ \boxed{M(C)=60.0\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}}. \]

A neutral compound of this mass that yields two ammonia molecules on alkaline hydrolysis and carbon dioxide on acid hydrolysis is urea, NC(=O)N: \[ \boxed{\ce{H2N-C(=O)-NH2}}. \] Its neutral molecular structure is consistent with the very low conductivity.

In alkaline solution, the carbon-containing product is carbonate: \[ \boxed{\ce{H2N-C(=O)-NH2 + 2 OH- -> CO3^2- + 2 NH3}}. \]

In acidic solution, the nitrogen-containing product remains protonated as ammonium: \[ \boxed{\ce{H2N-C(=O)-NH2 + H2O + 2 H+ -> CO2 + 2 NH4+}}. \]

6.4 — Identification of D and its acidic hydrogen

The oxygen percentage is \[ 100.0-37.5-3.1-21.9=37.5\%. \] Using ordinary rounded atomic masses, the atomic ratio is \[ \frac{37.5}{12}:\frac{3.1}{1}:\frac{21.9}{14}:\frac{37.5}{16} \approx4:4:2:3. \] Thus the empirical formula is \[ \ce{C4H4N2O3}. \]

The ester is diethyl malonate, CCOC(=O)CC(=O)OCC. Each of its two ester groups can react with one amino group of urea, eliminating a molecule of ethanol, CCO. Joining both ends produces a six-membered ring.

The formal condensation balance is \[ \ce{C7H12O4 + CH4N2O -> C4H4N2O3 + 2 C2H6O}. \] Consequently, the molecular formula equals the empirical formula, and D is barbituric acid, O=C1CC(=O)NC(=O)N1.

Its calculated composition is \[ M(D)=4(12)+4(1)+2(14)+3(16)=128\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}, \] \[ \%C=37.5,\qquad \%H=3.125,\qquad \%N=21.875, \] in agreement with the given percentages.

To draw the structure, make a six-membered ring with the successive atoms \[ \ce{N1-C2-N3-C4-C5-C6}. \] Attach a carbonyl oxygen to C2, C4, and C6; one hydrogen to each nitrogen; and two hydrogens to C5. Mark either C5 hydrogen with an asterisk: \[ \boxed{\ce{-NH-C(=O)-NH-C(=O)-C(H)(H^{*})-C(=O)-}} \quad\text{(closed ring).} \]

Loss of this proton gives the barbiturate anion, O=C1[CH-]C(=O)NC(=O)N1. Its negative charge is resonance-stabilized by the carbonyl groups on both sides of C5. This explains the characteristic acidity of the methylene hydrogen.

For completeness, the inorganic species used in the equations have the following names and SMILES:

Species SMILES
Water, \(\ce{H2O}\) O
Hydrogen ion, \(\ce{H+}\) [H+]
Hydroxide ion, \(\ce{OH-}\) [OH-]
Iodine, \(\ce{I2}\) II
Iodide ion, \(\ce{I-}\) [I-]
Sodium atom, \(\ce{Na}\) [Na]
Sodium ion, \(\ce{Na+}\) [Na+]
Hydrogen, \(\ce{H2}\) [H][H]
Ammonia, \(\ce{NH3}\) N
Ammonium ion, \(\ce{NH4+}\) [NH4+]
Carbonate ion, \(\ce{CO3^2-}\) [O-]C(=O)[O-]
Carbon dioxide, \(\ce{CO2}\) O=C=O

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers. Where this solution differs from the official solution, the official solution contains an error or a misprint.