Question

Draw the major condensation product obtained by treatment of ethyl 3-methylbutanoate with sodium ethoxide in ethanol.

Answer 1

ethyl 3-ethoxy-3-hydroxy-2-isopropyl-5-methyl hexanoate

Step-by-step explanation:

In this case, we have a very strong base (sodium ethoxide). Therefore, this compound will remove a hydrogen from ethyl 3-methyl butanoate generating a carbanion.

This carbanion, can attack another ethyl 3-methyl butanoate molecule on the carbonyl group generating a new C-C bond and producing a negative charge in the oxygen.

Then the ethanol can protonate the molecule generating an "OH" group and the ethoxide.

See figure 1

I hope it helps!