Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: lewisdonner on April 27, 2021, 04:19:25 AM
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Hello Chemichal Forums
I have a question regarding the following reaction:
As I see it, the strong base OH- destoys the esterbonds in the triglyceride. The hydrogenatom of KOH goes to the "skeleton" of the triglyceridemolecule seperated by the broken esterbonds to form the glycerol, and the O- ion and K+ ion goes to the carboxylate-ion to form the potassium salt. This is how I make it work in the reaction, but I find it very odd that an o- ion exist like this.
It this the correct interpretation?
Thank you very much for any help
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It is opposit. OH- goes to the Glycerine and only K+ goes to the carboxyl rest.
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Oh so really the reaction is like this?
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The OH- attacks the carbonyl, acetate is not a leaving group.
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Thank you @Rolnor
So I can't illustrate it or describe it as simply as I have attempted to?
If the OH- attacks the carbonyl group, what is the result of this?
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@lewisdonner: Not really. The OH from the hydroxide ends up in the carboxylic acid. There might be some rather special cases when this is not true but I think they mostly deal with acidic hydrolysis not basic.
After addition of the OH- to the carbonyl, you get tetrahedral intermediate which then collapes and gives you the products. Wikipedia has a saponification page including the ilustration how the reaction works. I suggest you start there