The sodium salt shown is mixed with sodium ethanoate and the mixture is electrolysed (Kolbe). Which of the following alkanes is NOT formed?

AStructure A
BStructure B
CStructure C
DStructure D

Answer: D

The compound shown is sodium 2-methylpropanoate. The radicals formed are

CH X_{3} \cdot

and

(CH X_{3}) X_{2} CH \cdot

. Their couplings give ethane (Me-Me), 2-methylpropane (Me-iPr) and 2,3-dimethylbutane (iPr-iPr). Butane would need two ethyl radicals or a propyl radical, which cannot arise here, so it is not formed.

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