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Esters of carboxylic acids with low molecular weight are commonly used as fragrances and found in essential oils and pheromones. Phosphoesters form the backbone of DNA molecules. Nitrate esters, such as nitroglycerin, are known for their explosive properties, while polyesters are important plastics, with monomers linked by ester moieties.
An ester of a carboxylic acid.R stands for any group (typically hydrogen or organyl) and R ′ stands for any 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 ′). [1]
In organic chemistry and biochemistry esters are the functional group (R'-COOR") consisting of an organic radical united with the residue of any oxygen acid, either organic or inorganic. An ester is a product of the reaction of an acid (usually organic) and an alcohol (the hydrogen of the acid R-COOH is replaced by an alkyl 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]
For esters such as ethyl acetate (CH 3 COOCH 2 CH 3), ethyl formate (HCOOCH 2 CH 3) or dimethyl phthalate that are based on common acids, IUPAC recommends use of these established names, called retained names. The "-oate" changes to "-ate."
Aspartame is an artificial non-saccharide sweetener 200 times sweeter than sucrose and is commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages. [4] It is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide with brand names NutraSweet, Equal, and Canderel. [4]
[3] [page needed] The name derives from the Latin word oleum, which means oil. [4] It is the most common fatty acid in nature. [5] The salts and esters of oleic acid are called oleates. It is a common component of oils, and thus occurs in many types of food, as well as in soap.
Partial glycerides are esters of glycerol with fatty acids, where not all the hydroxyl groups are esterified. Since some of their hydroxyl groups are free their molecules are polar . Partial glycerides may be monoglycerides (two hydroxyl groups free) or diglycerides (one hydroxyl group free).