Esters

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Draw the following compounds:

• Butan-1-amine
• pentanoic acid
• 2-bromo pentan-3-ol

Chemical Properties of Esters

Hydrolysis reactions

• Reverse esterification (splits back into C.A. and alcohol)
• Hydrolyse in dilute acidic conditions (H+)

Hydrolysis in extreme conditions

• in very basic conditions will form the alcohol and the carboxylic acid metal salt.

For example

If ethyl butanoate reacts with sodium hydroxide the products will be ethanol and sodium butanoate

Reaction with Ammonia

Under alcoholic conditions esters react with ammonia to form amides, The OR' group of the alcohol is replaced with an NH2 group.

Soponification

• Also known as soap making
• Is the hydrolysis of large esters under basic conditions.
• Soap most commonly produced is sodium laurate.

Fats and oils are esters of fatty acids and a tri-alcohol called glycerol or propan-1,2,3-triol. These esters are know as triglycerides

Esters