When ethyl-2-methylpropanoate is treated with sodium ethoxide in ethanol, there is no observable reaction. Explain this observation.

No net change in reaction occurs in this nucleophilic acyl subtitution reaction

Explanation:

Sodium ethoxide in ethanol gives nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction with ethyl-2-methylpropanoate.

Here ethoxide group replaces an ethoxide group from ester through addition-ellimination pathway.

So, ultimately, the product of this reaction is identical with reactant i. e. ethyl-2-methylpropanoate is reproduced.

Hence one might observe no change during reaction as product and reactant of this reaction are same.

Mechanistic pathway has been shown below.