A Levels Chemistry

Mevalonic acid is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, and is shown below.
OH
HO,CCH,ČCH,CH,OH
ČH,
Which properties does mevalonic acid have?
1
It has only one chiral carbon atom.
2
It can be esterified both by ethanoic acid and by ethanol, in the presence of H* ions.
It contains both primary and secondary alcohol groups.


Choice B is correct because:

Statement 1 is true because it has only one chiral carbon, i.e the central carbon in C2H3O2-(HO-)C(-CH3)-C2H5O.

Statement 2 is true because it contains both a carboxylic acid group and an alcohol group.

Statement 3 is false because it contains a primary and a tertiary alcohol group, but no secondary alcohol group.



Alcohols | 2003 - M/J - 9701/1 | Q40