Chapter 17, Problem 17.43P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: A mechanism has to be proposed for the given reaction.

Concept introduction:

Esters encompass a large family of organic compound with broad application in various fields of science and technology.

In Fischer esterification, a carboxylic acid is reacted with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as concentrated sulfuroc acid.

Esters can be simply represented as,

Fischer esterification can be represented as follows,

Mechanism of the reaction is the step-by-step description of the process by which reactants are changed into products.

Curved arrows show the bonds that are formed and the bonds that are broken in a reaction.

Curved arrows used to understand a reaction mechanism.

Electrophile: It is positively charged species which seeks for negative charge and hence accepts pair of electrons from negatively charged species (Nucleophiles) which results in the formation of chemical bond.

Nucleophile: It is negatively charged species which seeks for positive charge and hence donate pair of electrons to positively charged species (electrophiles) which results in the formation of chemical bond.

Acid chlorides are organic compound and they have functional group $RCOCl$.

Acid chlorides are most often prepared by treating a carboxylic acid with thionyl chloride.