Esterification
Esterification is the reaction between an acid and an alcohol.[1] The products in a esterification reaction are an ester and water. The reaction of esterification happens slowly and must be made faster by acids. It is an example of a dehyrdation reaction or condensation reaction.[1] The reaction can be reversed and is then called hydrolysis because the ester is broken down with water.[1] For instance, when long-chain organic acids (which are called fatty acids) are esterified with glycerol, the ester is called a lipid or fat.[1] If the fatty acids have a lot of double bonds in the parent hydrocarbons, the fat is called unsaturated and is usually a liquid.[1] As an example, most vegetable oil (excluding vegetable shortening like Crisco) is considered an unsaturated fat.[1] In contrast, if the fatty acids have a few double bonds in the parent hydrocarbons, the fat is called saturated and is usually a solid. As an example, most animal fat is considered a saturated fat.[1]
Esterification Media
An ester of a carboxylic acid. R stands for any group (typically hydrogen or organyl) and RTemplate:Prime stands for any organyl group.
Butyl acetate, an ester derived from a residue of butanol (CH
3CH
2CH
2CH
2OH) (the butanol residue is butyl group –CH
2CH
2CH
2CH
3) (right side of the picture, blue) and acetic acid CH
3CO
2H (left side of the picture, orange). The acidic hydrogen atom (–H) from acetic acid molecule is replaced by the butyl group.
A phosphoric acid ester, where R stands for an organyl group.
E and Z conformer of esters
Metrical details for methyl benzoate, distances in picometers.
Representative triglyceride found in a linseed oil, a triester of glycerol (center, black) derived of linoleic acid (bottom right, green), alpha-linolenic acid (left, red), and oleic acid (top right, blue).
Steglich-esterification, overview
The acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of an ester and Fischer esterification correspond to two directions of an equilibrium process.
Ester saponification (basic hydrolysis)
The Claisen condensation involves the reaction of an ester enolate and an ester to form a beta-keto ester.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lazar, Miriam A.; Tarendash, Albert (2020-06-19). Let's Review Regents: Physics--Physical Setting 2020. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5062-7087-6.
