Identify the major product of the following reaction sequence: Reagents: (i) SOCl ₂ (ii) NaN ₃ (iii) Ag ₂ O / (iv) H ₂ O (v) (vi) LAH

Step-by-step solution

The given reaction sequence involves the following steps: 1. Formation of Acid Chloride: The starting material is butanoic acid (a 4-carbon carboxylic acid). Reaction with thionyl chloride ( SOCl ₂ ) converts it into butanoyl chloride. CH₃CH₂CH₂COOH SOCl ₂ CH₃CH₂CH₂COCl 2. Formation of Acyl Azide: Nucleophilic acyl substitution with sodium azide ( NaN ₃ ) yields butanoyl azide. CH₃CH₂CH₂COCl NaN ₃ CH₃CH₂CH₂CON ₃ 3. Curtius Rearrangement: Heating the acyl azide in the presence of Ag ₂ O causes the loss of nitrogen g