Rules of the Day 2-29-08

Click here for a copy of the mechanism sheet used in lecture today.

1. All of the carboxylic acid derivatives can be hydrolyzed, acid chlorides and anhydrides react with water directly, but the solution becomes acidic as the reaction proceeds.

2. Acid chlorides and anhydrides are so reactive that they will react with alchols directly to create esters. The mechansims are the same as for the hydrolysis reaction.

3. Esters require acid catalysis or base promotion to hydrolyze. The acid catalyzed ester hydrolysis mechanism is the functional reverse of the Fischer esterification mechanism, illustrating the concept of microscopic reversibility.

4. Esters react with alcohols to give new esters in an equilibrium process catalyzed by acid.

Homework: Start Working on Homework Problem Set 6. It will be due before class next Wednesday, March 5. Reading: Sections 18.5-18.6 Problems in Book: 18.6, 18.7, 18.21, 18.22You will not turn these in but they are very helpful to PREPARE for the next lecture.