Fischer esterification

E180491

Fischer esterification is a classic acid-catalyzed organic reaction that forms esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols under reversible equilibrium conditions.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Fischer esterification canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf acid-catalyzed reaction
equilibrium reaction
esterification reaction
organic reaction
byproductRemovalMethod azeotropic distillation of water
use of Dean–Stark apparatus
catalyst p-toluenesulfonic acid
strong Brønsted acid
sulfuric acid
catalystRegenerated true
classification homogeneous catalysis
commonExample formation of ethyl acetate from acetic acid and ethanol
conditions acidic medium
heating under reflux
doesNotRequire separate activating reagent like acid chloride
drivingForce removal of water
use of excess alcohol
equilibriumConstantDependsOn structure of acid and alcohol
equilibriumControlled true
intermediate oxonium ion
tetrahedral intermediate
leChatelierPrincipleApplied true
limitation sensitive functional groups may decompose in strong acid
water produced shifts equilibrium backward
mechanismStep deprotonation to form ester
elimination of water
formation of tetrahedral intermediate
nucleophilic attack of alcohol on protonated carbonyl
proton transfers within tetrahedral intermediate
protonation of carbonyl oxygen of carboxylic acid
namedAfter Emil Fischer
product ester
water
rateDependsOn acid concentration
reactant concentration
temperature
reactant alcohol
carboxylic acid
reactionType nucleophilic acyl substitution
requires protonation of carbonyl group
reverseReaction acid-catalyzed ester hydrolysis
reversibility reversible
sideReaction carbocation formation at very strong acid and high temperature
typicalSolvent alcohol reactant
usedFor preparation of simple esters
synthesis of flavor esters
synthesis of fragrance esters
usedIn laboratory ester synthesis
undergraduate organic chemistry teaching

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Emil Fischer knownFor Fischer esterification