CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Organic synthesis
The following synthetic route is used to convert 1-bromobutane () into pentanoic acid ().
Step 1: 1-bromobutane is treated with aqueous potassium cyanide in ethanol at reflux to form compound X. Step 2: Compound X is heated with dilute sulfuric acid to produce pentanoic acid.
Explain the synthetic route by stating the reagents and conditions required for each step and identifying the type of reaction occurring in each step.
4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.
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