Esterification (shown below) is a reaction converting a carboxylic acid to its ester. It involves only the carbonyl carbon. Esterification of $(-)$ lactic acid with methanol yields $(+)$ methyl lactate. Assuming that there are no side reactions,what is true about this reaction?

  • A
    An $S_N2$ process has occurred,inverting the absolute configuration of the chiral center
  • B
    An $S_N1$ reaction at the chiral center has inverted the optical rotation
  • C
    $A$ diastereomer has been produced; diastereomers have different physical properties including optical rotation
  • D
    Optical rotation is not directly related to absolute configuration,so the change in sign of rotation is merely a coincidence

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The product $(C)$ of the given reaction sequence is:

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