VITEEE 2013 Paper

When two molecules of an ethylacetate undergo condensation reaction, in presence of sodium ethoxide involving the reaction is called as Claisen condensation and product is a β - keto ester
2CH3CH2

O ||

C

OCH3

(i)CH3O

→

(ii)H+

CH3CH2

O ||

C

β

C

| |α CH3

O ||

C

OCH3 + CH3OH
Mechanism
Step I

Step II

Step III