Ethyl 3-oxobutanoate, CH3-CO-CH2-COOC2H5, is treated first with NaBH4 in methanol at 0 degC, and the product is then treated with excess LiAlH4 in ether followed by aqueous acid. The final organic product (apart from ethanol) is

JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3ro012

Ethyl 3-oxobutanoate, $CH X_{3} - CO - CH X_{2} - COOC X_{2} H X_{5}$ , is treated first with $NaBH X_{4}$ in methanol at $0^{\circ} C$ , and the product is then treated with excess $LiAlH X_{4}$ in ether followed by aqueous acid. The final organic product (apart from ethanol) is

Step 1:

NaBH X_{4}

reduces only the ketone, giving ethyl 3-hydroxybutanoate. Step 2:

LiAlH X_{4}

reduces the ester to a primary alcohol, giving

CH X_{3} CH (OH) CH X_{2} CH X_{2} OH

(butane-1,3-diol) and ethanol.