Question

What class of organic product results when 1-heptyne is treated with a mixture of mercuric acetate in aqueous sulfuric acid, and then HOCH2CH2OH with catalytic sulfuric acid

Answer 1

2-methyl-2-pentyl-1,3-dioxolane

Step-by-step explanation:

In this case, we have two reactions:

First reaction:

1-heptyne + mercuric acetate -------> Compound A

Second reaction:

Compound A + HOCH2CH2OH -------> Compound C

First reaction

In the first reaction, we have as a main functional group a triple bond. We have to remember that mercuric acetate in sulfuric acid will produce a ketone. The carbonyl group (C=O) would be placed in the most substituted carbon of the triplet bond (in this case, carbon 2). With this in mind, we will have as a product: heptan-2-one. (See figure 1).

Second reaction

In this reaction, we have as reagents:

-) Heptan-2-one

-) Ethylene-glycol
`HOCH_2CH_2OH`

-) Sulfuric acid
`H_2SO_4`

When we put ethylene-glycol with a ketone or an aldehyde we will form a cyclic acetal. In this case, this structure would be formed on carbon 2 forming 2-methyl-2-pentyl-1,3-dioxolane. (See figure 2).

I hope it helps!