Diester saponification under basic hydrolysis

Steps:

• Diester undergoes nucleophilic acyl substitution with OH⁻ from NaOH, cleaving each ester to form carboxylate and alcohol.
• Excess aqueous NaOH ensures complete hydrolysis of both ester groups.
• Products are sodium carboxylates (salts) and alcohols; no acidic workup, so salts remain.
• For a typical diester like ROOC-(CH₂)ₙ-COOR, yields ⁻OOC-(CH₂)ₙ-COO⁻ 2Na⁺ and 2 ROH.

Why C is correct:

• C shows the dianionic dicarboxylate salt and two alcohol molecules, matching basic hydrolysis products per saponification definition.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Shows diacid, requiring acidic workup not present.
• B: Shows monoester, implying incomplete hydrolysis despite excess base.
• D: Includes unchanged ester, ignoring full reaction conditions.

Final answer: C