Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Tom on June 07, 2004, 01:40:50 PM
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Is Butyl formate is synthesized from a 4 carboxylic acid and a 1 carbon alcohol?
Thanks, Tom
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It probably can. Although I'm not sure what reaction takes place to form it.
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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.
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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).