A student I am tutoring has asked me to help him formulate a synthesis

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the challenges of formulating a synthesis pathway for N-ethylpent-4-enoate, a compound that appears to be misidentified or possibly non-existent. The tutor expresses frustration in determining the correct structural formula, noting that the presence of "N" typically indicates a nitrogen attachment, which is absent in the provided structure. A search for information yielded minimal results, reinforcing doubts about the compound's validity. The tutor's student claims to have received guidance from classmates on synthesizing the compound using simple molecules, but this raises skepticism about the accuracy of the information. The tutor is considering urging the student to confirm the compound's name with their teacher, as the suggested formula appears to resemble N-ethylpent-4-enamide instead. The conversation highlights the confusion surrounding the compound's existence and the need for clarification from authoritative sources.
mike.bayville
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A student I am tutoring has asked me to help him formulate a synthesis pathway for the compound N-ethylpent-4-enoate.

I have spent countless hours trying to determine the structural formula for this compound without success.

I must be missing something so obvious... Like leaves in a forest!

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.



Mike
 
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The big "N" means usually that the ethyl is bound to a nitrogen in the rest of the structure, however there is none. So this compound either does not exist or the formula you or your student provided is incomplete.
 


I agree with you!

As a matter of fact, a Google search resulted in essentially one hit from 3 months ago on answers.yahoo.com and the person answering a question regarding the structural diagram of N-ethylpent-4-enoate came to the same conclusion you did.

Now, when I asked the student yesterday to ask his teacher today to confirm the compound name, while I was on hold he claimed to have contacted some other classmates who had successfully produced a synthesis pathway to N-ethylpent-4-enoate from ethane and pentane using "only small molecules and no other organic compounds" per the teacher's instructions.

I am beginning to wonder if he is pulling my leg?

I have to figure some way to get him to ask his teacher or just tell him I cannot help him... I do not know what else to do!
 


A friend suggested the following formula, but it does not look right to me...

CH3-CH2-NH-O-C(=O)-CH2-CH2-CH=CH2

Any thoughts?
 


The molecule you were drawing is N-ethylpent-4-enamide
 
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