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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Tom on June 07, 2004, 01:40:50 PM

Title: Butyl formate
Post by: Tom on June 07, 2004, 01:40:50 PM
Is Butyl formate is synthesized from a 4 carboxylic acid and a 1 carbon alcohol?

Thanks, Tom
      
Title: Re:Butyl formate
Post by: Mitch on June 07, 2004, 03:15:34 PM
It probably can. Although I'm not sure what reaction takes place to form it.
Title: Re:Butyl formate
Post by: jdurg on June 07, 2004, 05:02:21 PM
It's a pretty standard esterification reaction between a carboxyllic acid and an alcohol.  Most people do these reactions in their first year college chemistry labs.  

The reaction is CH3CH2CH2COOH + CH3OH -> CH3CH2CH2(C=O)O-CH3 + H2O

This requires heat and I believe a little bit of concentrated sulfuric acid to catalyze it.  
Title: Re:Butyl formate
Post by: jdurg on June 07, 2004, 10:40:06 PM
Actually, I'm a bit off in my structure.  I drew the structure for methyl butyrate instead.  Butyl formate would be synthesized from a four carbon alcohol and a one carbon acid.  (I.E. Butanol and Formic Acid).