IChO 2003 · Theory problem 31

Ester identification

SECTION C: Organic Chemistry

PROBLEM 31 Ester identification

2.81 g of an optically active diester A, containing only \(\ce{C}\), \(\ce{H}\) and \(\ce{O}\) were saponified with 30.00 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) of a 1.00 M \(\ce{NaOH}\) solution. Following the saponification, the solution required 6.00 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) of a 1.00 M \(\ce{HCl}\) solution to titrate the unused \(\ce{NaOH}\) only. The saponification products were an optically inactive dicarboxylic acid B, \(\ce{MeOH}\) and an optically active alcohol C. Alcohol C reacted with \(\ce{I2/NaOH}\) to give a yellow precipitate and \(\ce{C6H5COONa}\). The diacid B reacted with \(\ce{Br2}\) in \(\ce{CCl4}\) to give a single, optically inactive product (compound D). Ozonolysis of B gave only one product.

a) Determine the molecular mass of compound A.

b) Give the structural formulas of A, B, and C without stereochemical information.

c) Give the possible stereochemical formulas (with bold and dashed bonds) for C.

d) Give the stereochemical formula for D, using a Fischer projection.

e) Give the stereochemical formula for B.

The diester A also reacted with \(\ce{Br2}\) in \(\ce{CCl4}\) and was converted to a mixture of two compounds (E, F) both optically active.

f) Give all the possible stereochemical formulas for E and F, using Fischer projections. Name all the stereogenic centers as either \(R\) or \(S\) on all the formulas.

If we use \(\ce{Na^{18}OH}\) for the saponification of compound A, would the oxygen isotope be incorporated in (either or both of) the products B and C?

g) Mark the correct answer:

i) Only B ( )

ii) Only C ( )

iii) Both B and C ( )

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • a) \(M_r(\mathbf A)=234\), corresponding to a molar mass of \(\boxed{234\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}}\).

  • b) Structures without stereochemical information:

  • A: methyl 1-phenylethyl but-2-enedioate, COC(=O)C=CC(=O)OC(C)c1ccccc1.
  • B: but-2-enedioic acid, O=C(O)C=CC(=O)O.
  • C: 1-phenylethanol, CC(O)c1ccccc1.

  • c) The possibilities are (R)-1-phenylethanol, C[C@@H](O)c1ccccc1, and (S)-1-phenylethanol, C[C@H](O)c1ccccc1. Their wedge-and-dash descriptions are given below.

  • d) D is meso-(2R,3S)-2,3-dibromobutanedioic acid, O=C(O)[C@@H](Br)[C@@H](Br)C(=O)O. Its Fischer projection has both bromine atoms on the same side.

  • e) B is fumaric acid, (E)-but-2-enedioic acid, O=C(O)/C=C/C(=O)O: the carboxyl groups are trans.

  • f) Numbering the butanedioate chain from the methyl-ester end and calling the original alcohol stereocentre \(1'\), the four possible configurations are \[ (2R,3S,1'R),\quad(2S,3R,1'R),\quad (2R,3S,1'S),\quad(2S,3R,1'S). \] For either fixed configuration at \(1'\), the corresponding two products are diastereomers. Their complete names, SMILES and Fischer placements appear below.

  • g) \(\boxed{\text{i) Only B}}\).

Solution

a) Molecular mass of A

The back-titration measures the remaining sodium hydroxide:

\[ \ce{NaOH + HCl -> NaCl + H2O}. \]

Here sodium hydroxide is [Na+].[OH-], hydrogen chloride is Cl, sodium chloride is [Na+].[Cl-], and water is O.

The initial and remaining amounts of base are

\[ n_{\mathrm{initial}}(\ce{NaOH}) =(30.00\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm L) (1.00\ \mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}) =0.0300\ \mathrm{mol}, \]

\[ n_{\mathrm{remaining}}(\ce{NaOH}) =(6.00\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm L) (1.00\ \mathrm{mol\,L^{-1}}) =0.00600\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Thus,

\[ n_{\mathrm{consumed}}(\ce{NaOH})=0.0240\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Each molecule of a diester consumes two equivalents of hydroxide:

\[ n(\mathbf A)=\frac{0.0240}{2}=0.0120\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{M(\mathbf A)=\frac{2.81\ \mathrm g}{0.0120\ \mathrm{mol}} =234\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}}. \]

b) Constitutional structures of A, B and C

The yellow precipitate is iodoform, IC(I)I. An optically active alcohol undergoing the iodoform reaction contains the unit \(\ce{CH3-CH(OH)-R}\). Formation of sodium benzoate, [Na+].[O-]C(=O)c1ccccc1, identifies the other substituent as phenyl.

Consequently, C is 1-phenylethanol:

\[ \ce{C6H5-CH(OH)-CH3}. \]

Its balanced iodoform reaction is

\[ \ce{C6H5CH(OH)CH3 + 4I2 + 6NaOH -> C6H5COONa + CHI3 + 5NaI + 5H2O}. \]

Iodine has SMILES II; sodium iodide has SMILES [Na+].[I-].

The other alcohol is methanol, CO. Formation of the diester from the diacid and the two alcohols eliminates two water molecules, so

\[ M(\mathbf A) =M(\mathbf B)+M(\ce{CH3OH})+M(\mathbf C)-2M(\ce{H2O}). \]

Using the nominal formula masses,

\[ M(\mathbf B) \approx 234+2(18)-32-122 =116\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

A dicarboxylic acid of this mass, containing only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, has molecular formula \(\ce{C4H4O4}\). Its degree of unsaturation is

\[ \mathrm{DBE}=\frac{2(4)+2-4}{2}=3. \]

Two units arise from the carboxyl carbonyls; the third corresponds to the alkene that reacts with bromine. Obtaining only one organic product upon ozonolysis identifies equivalent alkene halves:

\[ \boxed{\mathbf B:\ \ce{HOOC-CH=CH-COOH}}. \]

For example, a conventional reductive ozonolysis gives two molecules of glyoxylic acid (2-oxoacetic acid), O=CC(=O)O:

\[ \ce{HOOC-CH=CH-COOH + O3 + (CH3)2S -> 2OHC-COOH + (CH3)2SO}. \]

This balanced equation uses dimethyl sulfide as the reductive work-up reagent. Ozone is [O-][O+]=O, dimethyl sulfide is CSC, and dimethyl sulfoxide is CS(C)=O. The work-up itself is not specified in the question.

Combining B, methanol and C gives

\[ \boxed{\mathbf A: \ \ce{CH3O-C(=O)-CH=CH-C(=O)-O-CH(CH3)-C6H5}}. \]

Its molecular formula is \(\ce{C13H14O4}\), consistent with the measured molar mass:

\[ 13(12)+14(1)+4(16)=234. \]

The balanced saponification equation is

\[ \ce{C13H14O4 + 2NaOH -> C4H2Na2O4 + CH3OH + C6H5CH(OH)CH3}. \]

The actual alkaline product is disodium but-2-enedioate, [Na+].[Na+].[O-]C(=O)C=CC(=O)[O-]. The diacid B is obtained on subsequent acidification:

\[ \ce{C4H2Na2O4 + 2HCl -> C4H4O4 + 2NaCl}. \]

This acidification is separate from the stated back-titration, which measures unused hydroxide only.

c) Possible stereochemical formulas of C

The alcohol carbon is attached to four different groups. Its CIP priorities are

\[ \ce{OH}>\ce{C6H5}>\ce{CH3}>\ce{H}. \]

Thus C can have either the \(R\) or the \(S\) configuration; the information supplied does not select between them.

For precise wedge-and-dash drawings, put the stereogenic carbon at the centre, with phenyl at the upper left and methyl at the upper right, both connected by ordinary bonds in the plane:

  • (R)-1-phenylethanol: put \(\ce{OH}\) at the lower left on a solid wedge toward the observer, and \(\ce{H}\) at the lower right on a dashed wedge away.
  • (S)-1-phenylethanol: retain those positions but reverse the wedge types: \(\ce{OH}\) is dashed away, and \(\ce{H}\) is solid toward the observer.

These are the two enantiomers whose stereochemical SMILES are listed in the Answers.

d) Fischer projection of D

Bromination adds two bromine atoms across the double bond:

\[ \ce{HOOC-CH=CH-COOH + Br2 -> [CCl4] HOOC-CHBr-CHBr-COOH}. \]

Bromine is BrBr; the solvent, carbon tetrachloride, is ClC(Cl)(Cl)Cl.

Addition is anti. The single optically inactive stereoisomer is therefore meso-2,3-dibromobutanedioic acid.

Describe its Fischer projection as follows:

  • Put the four-carbon chain vertically, with \(\ce{COOH}\) at both the top and bottom.
  • At each of the two stereogenic carbons, put \(\ce{Br}\) on the left and \(\ce{H}\) on the right.
  • Horizontal bonds point toward the observer; vertical bonds point away.

Numbering from the top gives C2 \(R\) and C3 \(S\). At either centre, the priorities are

\[ \ce{Br}>\text{adjacent carbon bearing bromine}> \text{carboxyl carbon}>\ce{H}. \]

The internal symmetry makes this molecule achiral despite its two stereogenic centres.

e) Stereochemical formula of B

Anti addition to the trans alkene produces the meso dibromide found in part (d). Hence

\[ \boxed{\mathbf B=\text{fumaric acid, }(E)\text{-but-2-enedioic acid}}. \]

For its drawing, place the double bond horizontally. Put \(\ce{COOH}\) above the left alkene carbon and below the right alkene carbon; put the two hydrogens in the remaining positions.

Thus the two carboxyl groups lie on opposite sides of the double bond. Its stereochemical SMILES is O=C(O)/C=C/C(=O)O.

f) All possible stereochemical formulas of E and F

Saponification preserves the alkene configuration, so A is a mixed ester of fumaric acid. Its bromination has the balanced molecular equation

\[ \ce{C13H14O4 + Br2 ->[CCl4] C13H14Br2O4}. \]

Anti addition generates the configurations \((2R,3S)\) or \((2S,3R)\) at the two new stereogenic centres. The existing 1-phenylethyl stereocentre retains its configuration.

Number the butanedioate chain from the methyl-ester end, and label the original alcohol stereocentre C1′. The product labels below are arbitrary.

Product Complete name Stereochemical SMILES
\(E_R\) Methyl [(1R)-1-phenylethyl] (2R,3S)-2,3-dibromobutanedioate COC(=O)[C@@H](Br)[C@@H](Br)C(=O)O[C@H](C)c1ccccc1
\(F_R\) Methyl [(1R)-1-phenylethyl] (2S,3R)-2,3-dibromobutanedioate COC(=O)[C@H](Br)[C@H](Br)C(=O)O[C@H](C)c1ccccc1
\(E_S\) Methyl [(1S)-1-phenylethyl] (2R,3S)-2,3-dibromobutanedioate COC(=O)[C@@H](Br)[C@@H](Br)C(=O)O[C@@H](C)c1ccccc1
\(F_S\) Methyl [(1S)-1-phenylethyl] (2S,3R)-2,3-dibromobutanedioate COC(=O)[C@H](Br)[C@H](Br)C(=O)O[C@@H](C)c1ccccc1

For all four Fischer projections, use the following connected vertical sequence, from top to bottom:

\[ \ce{CO2CH3},\quad \mathrm{C2},\quad \mathrm{C3},\quad \ce{C(=O)},\quad \ce{O},\quad \mathrm{C1'},\quad \ce{CH3}. \]

Here \(\ce{Ph}\) denotes the phenyl group, \(\ce{C6H5}\). Complete the horizontal bonds according to this table; each entry specifies left / right, followed by the centre’s configuration.

Product At C2 At C3 At C1′
\(E_R\) \(\ce{Br}/\ce{H}\), \(R\) \(\ce{Br}/\ce{H}\), \(S\) \(\ce{Ph}/\ce{H}\), \(R\)
\(F_R\) \(\ce{H}/\ce{Br}\), \(S\) \(\ce{H}/\ce{Br}\), \(R\) \(\ce{Ph}/\ce{H}\), \(R\)
\(E_S\) \(\ce{Br}/\ce{H}\), \(R\) \(\ce{Br}/\ce{H}\), \(S\) \(\ce{H}/\ce{Ph}\), \(S\)
\(F_S\) \(\ce{H}/\ce{Br}\), \(S\) \(\ce{H}/\ce{Br}\), \(R\) \(\ce{H}/\ce{Ph}\), \(S\)

As usual, horizontal Fischer bonds project toward the observer and vertical bonds away.

For an A enantiomer with \(1'R\), the products are \(E_R\) and \(F_R\); for \(1'S\), they are \(E_S\) and \(F_S\). Each pair consists of diastereomers. Across the two pairs, \(E_R/F_S\) and \(F_R/E_S\) are enantiomeric pairs.

g) Incorporation of oxygen-18

The correct choice is

\[ \boxed{\text{i) Only B}}. \]

Saponification proceeds by nucleophilic acyl substitution. Hydroxide attacks the ester carbonyl carbon; collapse of the tetrahedral intermediate breaks the bond between the acyl carbon and the original alkoxy oxygen. That original oxygen remains with the alcohol.

For either ester group, the isotope accounting is

\[ \ce{R-C(=O)-OR' + ^{18}OH- -> R-C(=O)-^{18}O- + R'OH}, \]

where \(R\) and \(R'\) denote the corresponding organic groups.

Thus oxygen-18-labelled sodium hydroxide, [Na+].[18OH-], introduces oxygen-18 into the carboxylate groups of B. A representation of disodium fumarate labelled once in each carboxylate group is

[Na+].[Na+].O=C([18O-])/C=C/C(=O)[18O-].

Acidification retains the labels in B. Alcohol C retains its original ester oxygen and does not acquire the isotope through this mechanism.

The solution was checked against the official solution. Where this solution differs from the official solution, the official solution contains an error or a misprint.