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Esterificaton of Acetic anhydride + alcohols

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lukas.stib:
Hello chemists,

how does the synthesis of esters of acetic acid from acetic anhydride and alcohols proceed? I should also perform reflux, and then distill the ester, and I should use excess alcohol or acetic anhydride?

Thank you, Lukáš S.

Meter:
Look up how acid anhydrides react as electrophiles.

Babcock_Hall:
You might want to pick up a copy of Tietze and Eicher's book, "Reactions and Syntheses in the Organic Laboratory."

rolnor:
I suggest mix them 1:1 and reflux over night. This should give you a pure product but ditillation can be good if not. This reaction can be exothermic so you should use a large flask and fill it to just 1/5 or so, otherwise the mixture could spurt out from the flask.

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