How do you show the reactants and products for each of the reactions below. Identify any major products with an asterick.

a) The reduction of 2-methylcyclopentanone

b) The formation of 3- phenyloctane

I had trouble with these on a test. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Usually you have to draw them out using line models. In a), it should go from a ketone to an alcohol. I'm not sure if there will be a ring opening or not. In b), if you're forming 3-phenyloctane, then that must be the product. What are the reactants. There should be any of a number of ways of synthesizing this molecule.