Question

which one is correct regarding hemiacetal formation:

• A. $NaOH$ act as nucleophile for carbonyl
• B. $NaOH$ increase electrophilicity of acetone.
• C. $NaOH$ increase nucleophilicity of methanol.
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C $NaOH$ increase nucleophilicity of methanol.

Acidic proton of $C{H}_{3}OH$ is abstracted by $NaOH$ which increases nucleophilicity of $methanol$ and then by nucleophilic addition followed by protonation it forms hemiacetal.