[Elnino]

I was wondering what does K2CO3 in methanol do in this particular reaction attached? I'm not too familiar with these reagents used together.

I figured the K2CO3 would deprotonate the methanol to yield methoxide. The methoxide would react on the carbonyl. Carbonyl would reform kicking off cyclopentoxide anion producing methyl acetate in process

[Dan]

I figured the K2CO3 would deprotonate the methanol to yield methoxide. The methoxide would react on the carbonyl. Carbonyl would reform kicking off cyclopentoxide anion producing methyl acetate in process

I would predict the same thing - it's called a transesterification reaction.

[opsomath]

K2CO3 and methanol is a common way to generate a weak methoxide solution, as you said, generally used to remove protecting groups which come off in base. I primarily remember using it to remove a trimethylsilyl group from a terminal alkyne.

In your example, yes, this is a way to take off the acetyl group from that cyclopentanol.