Ethoxide ions

The first step is the interaction of the basic catalyst with the ester to produce the carbanion (I) the carbanion so formed then attacks the carbonyl carbon of a second molecule of ester to produce the anion (II), which is converted to ethyl acetoacetate (II) by the ejection of an ethoxide ion. Finally (III) reacts with ethoxide ion to produce acetoacetic ester anion (IV). This and other anions are mesomeric thus (IV) may be written ... 

The equilibrium of the last step (3), which is not actually part of the condensation mechanism, is far to the right because of the greater basic strength of the ethoxide ion as compared to (IV), and this largely assists the forward reactions in (1) and (2). The reaction mixture contains the sodium derivative of the keto-ester, and the free ester is obtained upon acidification. 

Alternatively, it may bo assumed that the basic ethoxide ion attacks a hydrogen atom of the activated CH, group to yield the carbanion directly ... 

Malonic ester, like acetoacetic ester (Section 111,151), when treated with an equivalent of sodium ethoxide, forms a mono-sodium derivative, which is of great value in synthetical work. The simplest formulation of the reaction is to r rd it as an attack of the basic ethoxide ion on a hydrogen atom in the CH, group the hydrogen atoms in the CHj group are activated by the presence of the two adjacent carbethoxyl groups ... 

Reaction of the cnrbaiilon (acetone anion) with the carbonyl carbon of ethyl acetate, accompanied by the release of an ethoxide ion, to form acetyl-acetone ... 

The resonance effect of the carbonyl group Electron delocalization expressed by resonance between the following Lewis structures causes the negative charge in acetate to be shared equally by both oxygens Electron delocalization of this type IS not available to ethoxide ion... 

Proton transfers convert the ammonium ion and ethoxide ion to their stable forms under the reaction conditions... 

We see that a secondary alkyl halide is needed as the alkylating agent The anion of diethyl malonate is a weaker base than ethoxide ion and reacts with secondary alkyl halides by substitution rather than elimination Thus the synthesis of 3 methylpentanoic acid begins with the alkylation of the anion of diethyl mal onate by 2 bromobutane... 

Isoxazoles unsubstituted in the 3-position react with hydroxide or ethoxide ions to give )3-keto nitriles (243) -> (244). This reaction involves nucleophilic attack at the 3-CH group. 1,2-Benzisoxazoles unsubstituted in the 3-position similarly readily give salicylyl nitriles (67AHC(8)277), and 5-phenyl-l,3,4-oxadiazole (245) is rapidly converted in alkaline solution into benzoylcyanamide (246) (61CI(L)292). A similar cleavage is known for 3-unsubstituted pyrazoles and indazoles the latter yield o-cyanoanilines. 

The incompleteness of the other data precludes generalization. However, a few apparent inconsistencies may be indicated to stimulate further research. Insertion of another aza group into 2-chloroquinoline causes the reactivity sequence o >m (reaction with piperidine) or, even, o reaction with CgHsO"), involving only relatively small factors and, in any case, in sharp contrast with the above-mentioned effects on 2-chloropyridine as a substrate. Further, meta-aza activation in all cases involving the ethoxide ion is fairly strong suggest-... 

Thiocyanato groups in pyrimidines (138 where R2 is chloro or amino) have been replaced with amines, ethoxide ion, phenoxide ion, and thiourea. 

Relative reactivity wiU vary with the temperature chosen for comparison unless the temperature coefficients are identical. For example, the rate ratio of ethoxy-dechlorination of 4-chloro- vs. 2-chloro-pyridine is 2.9 at the experimental temperature (120°) but is 40 at the reference temperature (20°) used for comparing the calculated values. The ratio of the rate of reaction of 2-chloro-pyridine with ethoxide ion to that of its reaction with 2-chloronitro-benzene is 35 at 90° and 90 at 20°. The activation energy determines the temperature coefficient which is the slope of the line relating the reaction rate and teniperature. Comparisons of reactivity will of course vary with temperature if the activation energies are different and the lines are not parallel. The increase in the reaction rate with temperature will be greater the higher the activation energy. 

The effect of the leaving group is illustrated in the comparison of fluoro- and chloro-nitrobenzenes (Table VIII) in their reactions with ethoxide ion (lines 5 and 8) and with piperidine (lines 7 and 9). Rate ratios F Cl are 23 1 (opposing and entropy of activation changes) and 201 1 (E effect), respectively, for the two nucleophiles. For the reasons discussed in Section II, D, 1, a fluorine substituent produces a lower energy of repulsion of the nucleophile and thus facilitates reaction. 

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