Synthesis of Esters
You may use these summaries and problems but you may NOT download them for use at another site, nor may you charge for access to them. Copyright Linda M. Sweeting 1997
The following example reactions are organized by type, with references to text chapters. Links within these summaries (which may show up as boxes around reagents) will provide further information about the reagents and their other reactions. Return to Reaction Summary menu for other functional group choices.
Note that products are shown after neutralization; neutralization of products is NOT shown here for simplicity.
Addition / Elimination
+ H2O
McMurry 21.3, Fessenden 14.6, Schmid 15.11
To other reactions of acids
+
+ HCl
McMurry 11.15, 21.4, Fessenden 15.3, Schmid 16.5
To other reactions of acid chlorides
+
This reaction is called ester exchange or interesterification
McMurry 21.5, Fessenden 15.5C, Schmid 16.9
+
+ NaBr
McMurry 11.15, Fessenden 14.5, 15.5B, Schmid 12.18
Note that carboxylates are weak nucleophiles
To other nucleophilic substitutions
To reactions of esters or to the main graphical reactions menu.
Last update February 1999.