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7.0: Chapter Objectives and Introduction to Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

CHEM 232 - Organic Chemistry II · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Objectives
    1. fulfill all of the detailed objectives listed under each individual section.
    2. design multi‑step syntheses in which the reactions introduced in this chapter are used in conjunction with any of the reactions described in previous chapters.
    3. solve road‑map problems that require a knowledge of the chemistry of carboxylic acid derivatives.
    4. define, and use in context, any of the key terms introduced in this chapter.

    After completing this section, you should be able to

    1. identify, and give an example of an acid halide, an acid anhydride, an ester, and an amide.
    2. write the general form of a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction.
    Key Terms

    Make certain that you can define, and use in context, the key terms below.

    • acyl derivative
    • nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction

    Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

    Carboxylic acid derivatives are formed when the hydroxyl group of a carboxylic acid is replaced by some other group, \(\ce{Y}\). These compounds are also called the acyl derivatives of a carboxylic acid because they usually contain an acyl group bonded to a substituent which can act as a leaving group in a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction.

    Acyl Group.svg

    Although many types of carboxylic acid derivatives are known, this chapter focuses on six: acid halides (acyl halides), anhydrides, esters, amides, thioesters, and acylphosphates.

    CA Derivatives.svg

    Cyclic esters and amides are referred to as lactones and lactams, respectively.

    Lactone.svg

    Carboxylic acid derivatives can be hydrolyzed back to the acid.

    General Reaction 1.svg

    Nitriles, \(\ce{RC \equiv N}\), discussed in the last chapter, are often are considered to be carboxylic acid derivatives, even though the acyl group is not present, because hydrolysis of nitriles leads to carboxylic acids.

    Nitrile.svg

    Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution Reaction

    The main type of reaction for carboxylic acid derivatives is called nucleophilic acyl substitution. This reaction involves the replacement of the \(\ce{Y}\) group by attack of a nucleophile \(\ce{Nu}^\ominus\) at the carbonyl carbon with subsequent cleavage of the \(\ce{C-Y}\) bond.

    Nuc Addition.svg

    Physical Properties of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

    The intermolecular forces of the respective acyl group combine with the size and structure of the Y-group to determine the physical properties of the the carboxylic acid derivatives as shown in the summary below.

    Name Structure Intermolecular Forces Relative Boiling Point (oC) Soluble in H2O General Comments
    Acid Chloride Acid Chloride.svg Polar, No H-Bonding

    102 (C4H7OCl -106.6 g/mol)

    		 No Acrid Piercing Odors
    Ester Ester.svg Polar, No H-Bonding 102 (C5H10O2 -102.1 g/mol) No Volatile Fragrant Liquids
    Acid Anhydride Acid Anhydride.svg Polar, No H-Bonding 140 (C4H6O3 -102.1 g/mol) No Acrid Piercing Odors
    Nitrile Nitrile Figure.svg Among the most polar compounds without H-Bonding       162 (C6H11N-97.3 g/mol) 186 (C7H13N-111.3 g/mol) Yes if C < 4 CH3CN is a useful polar aprotic solvent
    Amide Amide.svg Complex H-Bonding              232               (C5H11ON-101.1 g/mol) Yes if C < 4 Biological Important (Proteins)

    This page titled 7.0: Chapter Objectives and Introduction to Carboxylic Acid Derivatives was last modified on Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:09:20 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sol Parajon Puenzo (Cañada College) .