Exams › JEE Advanced › Chemistry
Correct answer: cyclopentanone
The Dieckmann cyclization of diethyl glutarate proceeds via intramolecular Claisen condensation. The alpha carbon of one ester attacks the carbonyl of the other, forming a 5-membered ring beta-keto ester: ethyl 2-oxocyclopentane-1-carboxylate. Acid hydrolysis converts the ester to a carboxylic acid (2-oxocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid), and heating causes decarboxylation (beta-keto acid loses CO2) to give cyclopentanone.