Question

Question: Use the malonic ester synthesis to prepare each carboxylic acid.

Short answer

Answer

The starting materials needed to prepare each carboxylic acid by the malonic ester synthesis are shown below.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of acetoacetic ester reaction

The acetoacetic ester synthesis is a method required for the conversion of ethyl acetoacetate to a ketone having one or two alkyl groups on the $\alpha$ -carbon.

Retrosynthetic pathway for obtaining the starting materials

To obtain the starting materials, a retrosynthetic analysis is followed, as shown below.

Forward pathway for obtaining the product

To obtain the product, a forward reaction scheme analysis is followed, as shown below.

Synthesis of the given compound a.

Synthesis of the given compound b.