Reactions of Carboxylic acids

Question

Compare the reactions of ethanoic acid and ethanoyl chloride with ethanol. Explain the differences in their reactions.

Answer 1

Hi Lakesh

 

The first thing you should note about these reactions is that they proceed via a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction. Make sure you can identify the nucleophiles in the two reactions you have written and that you feel comfortable drawing the mechanisms.

 

Question 1) Reaction of ethanoic acid with ethanoyl chloride

Treatment of ethanoic acid with ethanoyl chloride forms an anhydride, a carboxylic acid derivative, that has two carbony groups flanking an oxygen atom.

 

Question 2) Reaction of ethanoic acid with ethanol

Treatment of ethanoic acid with ethanol produces an ester, a carboxylic acid derivative, in which the oxygen has a carbonyl group on one side and an alkyl group on the other side.

 

Hope this answers your question.