Consider the synthesis below.What is compound B?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Compound A is a ketone with a molecular ion peak at m/z = 58, which corresponds to the loss of a methyl group. Using this information, we can propose the structure of A as CH3COCH3.

Compound B is formed by the reaction of A with NaNH2 and then H2O. This reaction is the Wolff-Kishner reduction, which converts a ketone or aldehyde to an alkane by converting the carbonyl group to a methylene group. In Compound B there is no ketone functionality, so it must be an alkane.

Between the options given (I-V), only Compound III is an alkane, so the answer is C.

Consider the Synthesis Below