Esterification
From Freepedia
Esterification is the general name for a chemical reaction in which two chemicals (typically an alcohol and an acid) form an ester as the reaction product. examples of esterification reactions include:
- Refluxing a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. In the absence of water, with alcohol/phenol, producing an ester, which is commonly used as a fragrance or flavoring.
- For example, esterification of acetic acid in excess ethanol in the presence of sulfuric acid result in an ester ethyl acetate.
H3C-COOH + HO-CH2-CH3 → H3C-COO-CH2-CH3 + H20 (with the presence of conc.sulfuric acid)
- the reaction of an alkali carboxylate and an alcohol. For example, the reaction of sodium acetate with ethanol.
H3C-COO- Na+ + HO-CH2-CH3 + H+ → H3C-COO-CH2-CH3 + H-0-H
- The reaction of acetyl chloride with ethanol.
- the reaction of a carboxylic acid halogenide (which is also called acyl halide) with an alcohol/phenol.
H3C-COCl + HO-CH2-CH3 → H3C-COO-CH2-CH3 + H-Cl
- The reaction of acetic anhydride with ethanol.
H3C-CO-O-CO-CH3 + HO-CH2-CH3 → H3C-COO-CH2-CH3 + H3C-COOH
The synthesis of aspirine is performed in that way.
See also
- Transesterification, a reaction to transform one ester into a different ester.
- Hydrolysis, the cleavage of an ester with water back to a carboxylic acid and alcohol.
- acetylation
- acylation
