Question

1. List the major nomenclature rules for carboxylic acids, give an example (draw structure and give name)

2. Explain the two major influences on the acidity of the O-H bond in carboxylic acids

3. Describe specific reagents used to oxidize and reduce aldehydes and ketones, provide an example of each (4 total)

4. Draw the mechanism for the Grignard reaction

Answer 1

Carboxylic Acids :
1. Carboxylic acids are named by counting the number of carbons present in the longest continuous chain including the carboxyl group and by replacing the suffix -ane of the corresponding alkane with -anoic acid.

2. If there are two -COOH groups, the suffix is expanded to include a prefix that indicates the number of -COOH groups present (-anedioic acid - there should not be more than 2 of these groups on the parent chain as they must occur at the ends). It is not mandatory to indicate the position of the -COOH group because this group will be at the end of the parent chain and its carbon is automatically assigned as C-1.

Important list of rules to follow:

1. The carboxyl group takes precedence over alkyl groups and halogen substituents, as well as alkene or double bonds, in the numbering of the parent chain.

2. If the carboxyl group (-COOH) is attached to a ring the parent ring is named and the suffix -carboxylic acid is added.

3. When both double bonds and carboxyl groups are present, the -en suffix follows the parent chain directly and the -oic acid suffix follows the -en suffix. The location of the double bonds are indicated before the parent name as before, and the -oic acid suffix follows the -en suffix directly. It is not necessary to specify the location of the carboxyl group because it is always the carbon number 1. Even, the carboxyl gets priority in the numbering of the parent chain.

4. If there is a choice in numbering not previously covered, the parent chain is numbered to give the substituents the lowest number at the first point of difference.

5. There are several common names which are acceptable as IUPAC names. They are shown in the examples at the end of this list butat this point these names will not be accepted by the computer. Eventually they will be accepted. Below are some examples:

2. The oxygen atom of the O-H atom is highly electronegative and hence develops a delta negative charge on it which helps to dissociate the H+. Again the carboxylate ion forms after a H+ is dissciated from carboxylic group, is resonance stabilized.

3. KMnO4, K2Cr2O7/H+, Ag2O, are oxidizing agents

LIAlH4, NaBH4 are reducing agents.

4.