I've been trying for quite some time to do this problem. We need to find the reagent or reagents that would facilitate the following reaction.
How would one go about converting diethyl malonate (C7H12O4) into 2-methylbutanal (C5H9O)? I believe one would use NaOEt in order to remove a H, create a ring (which would lead to some rearrangement insothat there would be a butyl doublebonded to an O) but I don't know how to "pull off" a methylbutanal.
Any suggestions?
???kate