There are many web sites which contain spectra of organic compounds. For example

Question

There are many web sites which contain spectra of organic compounds. For example, many useful spectra can be found on the "Spectral Database for Organic Compounds. SDBS". Visit the SDBS at the following URL ellipsis Click "agree to disclaimer". Now, locate and print the MS spectra of your unknown ester and include it in your report. Also, include the compound's CAS#. Be sure to print the entire MS, it may be easiest to "copy" and "paste" the spectra. Clearly mark the peak corresponding to the "parent" or molecular ion. Propose a structure for the base peak in the MS Spectrum Would MS have allowed you to identify your unknown ester without doing the ester hydrolysis and determining the melting point of the acid? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

Hydrolysis of an aromatic ester

From the SDBS website, we can choose any aromatic ester

2. The unknown ester is not given here, the base peak would be with aromatic 77 peak and the aliphatic chain attached to it. This answer would change depending upon which ester we are studing here (not mentioned in the problem).

3. MS spectrum can help identify the unknown ester to some extent even without doing the ester hydrolysis. The base peak can help us detect which type of aromatic ester we are dealing with. However, to clearly determine the structure one must hydrolyze the ester and determine the alcohol produced from the ester to write the correct structure of the unknown ester. The melting point can be identified after the hydrolysis step of the ester.

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