Concept: The reduction of non-terminal alkynes using Sodium (Na) or Lithium (Li) in liquid ammonia is known as Birch Reduction.
• Stereoselectivity: This specific reagent combination results in "anti-addition" of hydrogen.
• Product Geometry: Because the hydrogens add from opposite sides, the most stable, less hindered product is formed, which is the trans-alkene.
• Contrast: Hydrogenation with Lindlar's catalyst ($H_2/Pd/BaSO_4$) would produce the cis-alkene.
Step 1: Analyze the starting material and reagent.
But-2-yne ($CH_3-C\equiv C-CH_3$) is an internal alkyne. The reagent is $Na / \text{liq. } NH_3$.
This reaction proceeds via a radical anion mechanism where the trans-vinylic radical is preferred due to lower electronic repulsion between the methyl groups.
Step 2: Determine the final product.
The triple bond is reduced to a double bond. Due to the trans-preference of the Birch reduction, the two methyl groups end up on opposite sides of the double bond.
Product: trans-2-butene.