Why do these reactions occur? [closed]








**Closed.** This question is [off-topic](/help/closed-questions). It is not currently accepting answers.
 
 






---








 **Homework questions** must demonstrate some effort to understand the underlying concepts. For help asking a good homework question, see: [How do I ask homework questions on Chemistry Stack Exchange?](https://chemistry.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/141/how-do-i-ask-homework-questions-on-chemistry-stack-exchange)




Closed 7 years ago.








[Improve this question](/posts/57966/edit) 




> 
> Identify the products $[A]$ to $[D]$:
> 
> 
> $\ce{CH3COONa}+\ce{NaNH2} + \triangle \rightarrow [A]$
> 
> 
> $[A] +\ce{CO\_2} \rightarrow [B]$
> 
> 
> $[B] + \ce{H2O} \rightarrow [C]$
> 
> 
> $[C] +\ce{P2O5 } \rightarrow [D]$
> 
> 
> $[A],[B],[C],[D]$ are the main product in each step.
> 
> 
> 


According to my book's answer 


$[A]=\ce{NaCH2COONa}$


$[B]=\ce{NaOOC-COONa}$


$[C]= \ce{(CH2COOH)}\_2$


$[D]= \ce{C\_3O\_2}$


I can intuitively understand that product $[A]$ is correct.However I never learnt the next three reactions.Can someone explain/give a source from which I can learn why the next three reactions occur ?


Thanks.




Abstraction of $\ce{H+}$ by strong base $\ce{NH2^-}$
$$\ce{CH3-COO- + NH2^- -> ^-CH2-COO- + NH3}$$


Carboxylation to form malonate
$$\ce{^-CH2-COO- + CO2 -> ^-OOC-CH2-COO-}$$


Free malonic acid
$$\ce{^-OOC-CH2-COO- + 2 H+ -> HOOC-CH2-COOH}$$


Dehydration of malonic acid with $\ce{P4O10}$ yields carbon suboxide (unbalanced)
$$\ce{HOOC-CH2-COOH + P4O10-> O=C=C=C=O + H3PO4}$$


 3