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An ester of carboxylic acid.R stands for any group (organic or inorganic) and R′ stands for organyl group.. In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an acid (organic or inorganic) in which the hydrogen atom (H) of at least one acidic hydroxyl group (−OH) of that acid is replaced by an organyl group (−R).
The most commonly used alcohol is methanol, producing fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). When ethanol is used fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) are created. Other alcohols used for the production of biodiesel include butanol and isopropanol. Fatty acid ethyl esters are biomarkers for the consumption of ethanol (alcoholic beverages). [1] [2] [3]
Esterification is the general name for a chemical reaction in which two reactants (typically an alcohol and an acid) form an ester as the reaction product. Esters are common in organic chemistry and biological materials, and often have a pleasant characteristic, fruity odor. This leads to their extensive use in the fragrance and flavor industry.
Ethyl formate is an ester formed when ethanol (an alcohol) reacts with formic acid (a carboxylic acid). Ethyl formate has the characteristic smell of rum and is partially responsible for the flavor of raspberries , [ 3 ] occurring naturally in some plant oils, fruits, and juices.
Strong acids catalyze the reaction by donating a proton to the carbonyl group, thus making it a more potent electrophile. Bases catalyze the reaction by removing a proton from the alcohol, thus making it more nucleophilic. The reaction can also be accomplished with the help of enzymes, particularly lipases (one example is the lipase E.C.3.1.1.3 ...
The hydroxide anion adds to the carbonyl group of the ester. The immediate product is called an orthoester. Saponification part I. Expulsion of the alkoxide generates a carboxylic acid: Saponification part II. The alkoxide ion is a strong base so the proton is transferred from the carboxylic acid to the alkoxide ion, creating an alcohol:
This reaction, which is conducted on large scale industrially, requires the removal of the water from the reaction mixture as it is formed. Esters react in the presence of an acid or base to give back the alcohol and a salt. This reaction is known as saponification because it is used in the preparation of soap. Ethanol can also form esters with ...
The classic example of a dehydration reaction is the Fischer esterification, which involves treating a carboxylic acid with an alcohol to give an ester RCO 2 H + R′OH ⇌ RCO 2 R′ + H 2 O. Often such reactions require the presence of a dehydrating agent, i.e. a substance that reacts with water.