Chapter 16, Problem 16.87EP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The chemical reaction that gives lactones as product has to be given and what are lactones has to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

Esters are prepared by condensation of carboxylic acid with an alcohol.  A molecule of water is lost on this reaction.  The reaction that takes place in producing esters is known as esterification reaction.

Esterification reaction is the one in which the carboxylic acid is condensed with an alcohol (or phenol) in presence of strong acid catalyst to produce ester.  The general reaction scheme can be given as,

In the above reaction, hydroxyl group is lost from carboxylic acid and hydrogen is lost from alcohol molecule to form water as the byproduct.

If the considered compound is a hydroxyacid, then there is a possibility of intermolecular esterification reaction.  The product obtained in this case is a cyclic ester.  Cyclic esters contain an oxygen atom in the ring and a carbonyl group also.