Question

Show how the molecule shown can be synthesized via a Mannich reaction. Draw the neutral components required. The starting materials contain four carbon atoms or fewer.

Answer 1

In high school level chemistry, to synthesize a molecule via a Mannich reaction, start with aldehyde (like propanal), combine with dimethylamine and formaldehyde, then ensure each carbon has four bonds by adding hydrogen atoms where necessary.

Step-by-step explanation:

To synthesize a molecule via a Mannich reaction, we need an aldehyde or ketone, a secondary amine, and formaldehyde as the carbonyl component. Using starting materials with four carbon atoms or fewer, we could begin with an aldehyde such as propanal (which has 3 carbon atoms) as our carbonyl compound. For the secondary amine, we might use dimethylamine. Lastly, the formaldehyde will provide the necessary methylene group for the reaction.

The Mannich reaction proceeds as follows:

The secondary amine reacts with formaldehyde to form an iminium ion.

This iminium ion then reacts with the aldehyde (propanal in our case) through nucleophilic addition.

The result is a beta-amino carbonyl compound.

Always ensure that the products adhere to the rule that each carbon atom must form a total of four bonds. Therefore, add enough hydrogen atoms to satisfy the valency of carbon atoms.