Question

Predict the products of the following polar reaction, a step in the citric acid cycle for food metabolism, by interpreting the flow of electrons indicated by the curved arrows:

Short answer

Answer

Step-by-step solution

Flow of electrons

Electrons flow from less electron density to higher electron density. In a simple way, electrons flow from the nucleophile to the electrophile. Also, bond and non-bonding electrons are also denoted.

Flow of electrons in citric acid cycle

The nonbonding electrons of oxygen attack the carbon double bond carbon. In the next step, carbon double bond carbon abstracts hydrogen atom of hydronium ion and we get the resultant product, the mechanism of which is as shown below.