2007-03-16 16:07:54 · 2 answers · asked by hh17 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Triethylphosphonoacetate is added to sodium methoxide which produces an ylide. The sodium methoxide deprotonates the triethylphosphonoacetate, but why is it so acidic that it can be deprotonated with a relatively weak base? What's the pKa of triethylphosphonoacetate?
2007-03-16 16:30:38 · update #1
The only thing you can infer this is that phosphonic acid is more acidic than sodium methoxide. Actually, phosphonic acid is a "weak" acid with two removable hydrogens. From what you say, you must have used something like sodium hydrogen phosphonate, which again, is more acidic than sodium methoxide.
2007-03-16 16:14:12 · answer #1 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You think sodium methoxide is a weak base?
2007-03-17 00:53:40 · answer #2 · answered by Aaron H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋