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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.
The natural esterification that takes place in wines and other alcoholic beverages during the aging process is an example of acid-catalysed esterification. Over time, the acidity of the acetic acid and tannins in an aging wine will catalytically protonate other organic acids (including acetic acid itself), encouraging ethanol to react as a ...
Since esterification is highly reversible, the yield of the ester can be improved using Le Chatelier's principle: Using the alcohol in large excess (i.e., as a solvent). Using a dehydrating agent: sulfuric acid not only catalyzes the reaction but sequesters water (a reaction product). Other drying agents such as molecular sieves are also effective.
A common method for preparing isobutyl acetate is Fischer esterification, where precursors isobutyl alcohol and acetic acid are heated in the presence of a strong acid. Isobutyl acetate has three isomers: n-butyl acetate, tert-butyl acetate, and sec-butyl acetate, which are also common solvents.
The mechanism of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of esters is the reverse of Fischer esterification. Acid is only required in catalytic amounts, as in Fischer esterification, and an excess of water drives the equilibrium towards carboxylic acid and alcohol. [1]
Hydrogen bromide is the inorganic compound with the formula HBr.It is a hydrogen halide consisting of hydrogen and bromine. A colorless gas, it dissolves in water, forming hydrobromic acid, which is saturated at 68.85% HBr by weight at room temperature.
Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, is the chemical compound with the formula (CH 3 CO) 2 O. Commonly abbreviated Ac 2 O, it is the simplest isolable anhydride of a carboxylic acid and is widely used as a reagent in organic synthesis. It is a colorless liquid that smells strongly of acetic acid, which is formed by its reaction with ...
n-Butyl acetate is an organic compound with the formula CH 3 CO 2 (CH 2) 3 CH 3.A colorless, flammable liquid, it is the ester derived from n-butanol and acetic acid.It is found in many types of fruit, where it imparts characteristic flavors and has a sweet smell of banana or apple.