In the alkaline hydrolysis of ethyl acetate, OH− attacks the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate bonded to the hydroxide oxygen; the intermediate then collapses, regenerating OH−. Into which major category of catalysis does the role of OH− in this mechanism fall?
a) Binding (orientation) catalysis
b) General base (acid–base) catalysis without covalent intermediate
c) Covalent catalysis involving nucleophilic attack by OH−
d) Surface (heterogeneous) catalysis