Question

'Manufacture' the following compounds starting from hydrocarbons.

a) 2-pentanone
b) propandioc acid
c) s-butyl athanoate
d) N,N-diethyl-2-amonoheptane
e) isopropyl butanamide

Answer 1

I can only help with a so,
React pentene with either acidified water, potassium permanganate or potassium dichromate to produce the secondary alcohol pentan-2-ol
CH2=CH-CH2-CH2-CH3 + (acidified reagent) --> CH3-CH(OH)-CH2-CH2-CH3
React this newly formed solution again with one of the acidified reagents and take Markovnikovs major product
CH3-CH(OH)-CH2-CH2-CH3 + (acidified reagent) --> CH3-C(O)-CH2-CH2-CH3

The attached picture is the only way I know of synthesizing propandioc acid although it doesn't begin with a simple hydrocarbon.

Answer 2

b) propandioc acid