• Carboxylic acids are abundant in nature and in
pharmaceuticals.
21.1 Introduction Carboxylic Acids
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• The US produces over 2.5 million tons of acetic acid per
year, which is primarily used to produce vinyl acetate.
– Vinyl acetate is used in paints and adhesives.
– Carboxylic acid derivatives, such as vinyl acetate, are
very common, and they play a central role in organic
chemistry.
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-2
• Monocarboxylic acids are named with the suffix “oic acid.”
– The carbon of the carboxylic acid moiety is assigned the locant
position 1.
21.2 Nomenclature of Carboxylic Acids
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• When the carboxylic acid group is
attached to a ring, it is named as an
alkane carboxylic acid.
• There are also many common names for carboxylic acids.
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-4
• Dicarboxylic acids are named with
the suffix “dioic acid.”
• There are also many common names for dicarboxylic acids:
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-5
• The carbon atom of the carboxylic acid
has a trigonal planar geometry.
• The acid moiety is capable of strong hydrogen (H) bonding
including H-bonding between acid pairs.
– As a result, carboxylic acids generally have high boiling points.
– Consider the BPs of acetic acid (118 C) and isopropanol (82 C).
21.3 Structure/ Properties of Carboxylic Acids
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• Carboxylate ions end in the suffix “oate.”
– Compounds that end in the suffix “oate” are often found in food
ingredient lists as preservatives.
– NaOH is a strong base, so it is capable of reacting ≈100% with a
carboxylic acid.
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-7
• In water, the equilibrium generally favors the acid .
• pKa values mostly range between 4 and 5. What is pKa?
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-8
• How does the pKa value for a carboxylic acid compare to a
strong acid like HCl, or a very weak acid like ethanol?
H–Cl
pKa = -7
– How can induction and resonance be used to explain the acidity of a
carboxylic acid?
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-9
• Let’s examine the equilibrium between the carboxylic acid
and the carboxylate at physiological pH (7.3).
• The acid and the conjugate base make a buffer. HOW?
• Recall that the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation can be
used to calculate the pH of a buffer:
• Assuming the pKa is 4.3, calculate the ratio of
carboxylate/acid.
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-10
• Many biomolecules exhibit carboxylic acid moieties.
• Biomolecules such as pyruvic acid exist primarily as the
carboxylate under physiological conditions.
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-11
• Electron withdrawing substituents have a great effect on
acidity.
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& Sons, Inc.
Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-12
• Electron withdrawing substituents affect benzoic acid as
well.
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-13
21.4 Preparation of Carboxylic Acids
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-14
• Two new ways to make carboxylic acids:
1. The hydrolysis of a nitrile can produce a carboxylic acid.
– The mechanism will be discussed later.
– Carboxylic acids can be made from alkyl halides using a two-step
process.
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-15
2. Carboxylation of a Grignard reaction can be achieved
using CO2.
Copyright 2012 John
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-16
Which of the following will undergo a downhill acid base
reaction when exposed to an amine such as ammonia (NH3)?
1. I only
2. II only
3. I and II I and III
4. I and IV
5. I, II, and IV
6. All of them
7. None of them
8. Not sure
CTQ 7?
1. No errors
2. 1 error
3. 2 errors
4. 3 or more errors
5. Not sure
6. Need more time
• Fischer esterification combines a carboxylic acid
and an alcohol using an acid catalyst.
21.10 Preparation of Esters
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– Each step of the Fischer esterification mechanism is equilibrium.
– Under acidic conditions, (–) charges are avoided.
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-20
• The overall Fischer esterification reaction is an
equilibrium process.
– How might you use Le Châtelier’s principle to favor
products?
– How might you use Le Châtelier's principle to favor
reactants?
Copyright 2012 John
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-21
Which reactions will NOT give a significant amount of product?
O
OH
H3C NH2
O
NH
CH3
H2O
C6H5
O
OH
H2SO4
H3C
HN
excess
C6H5
O
N
H2O
O
OH
O
OEt
H2O
CH2CH3
Et OH
excess
excess
Et ONa H2SO4
O
OH
LiAlH4
O
OH
excessO
O
O
OH
O
OEt
H2O
Et OH
excess
NH3 NH4
H3O
OH
8. Not sure
9. Need more time
I. II.
III. IV.
V. VI.
1. I, II, and III
2. I, II, and IV
3. I, III, and IV
4. I, III, and V
5. II, III, and IV
6. I, II, and V
7. IV, V, and VI
8. Not sure
9. Need more time
• Esters can undergo hydrolysis in the presence of aqueous
hydroxide (SAPONIFICATION).
– Predict the last steps in the mechanism.
– To produce a carboxylic acid, H3O+ must be added at the end.
WHY?
21.11 Reactions of Esters
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-23
• SAPONIFICATION is an equilibrium process.
– Analyze the reversibility of each step in the mechanism.
– How might you use Le Châtelier’s principle to favor
products?
– How might you use Le Châtelier’s principle to favor
reactants?
– Is there an entropy difference that might be exploited?
• Soap is made through the saponification of
triglycerides. EXPLAIN HOW.
Copyright 2012 John
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-24
• Nylon is a polyamide.
• Polyester is made similarly. HOW?
21.12 Preparation and Reactions of Amides
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-25
• Amides can be hydrolyzed with H3O+, but the
process is slow and requires high temperature.
• The mechanism is very similar to that for the
hydrolysis of an ester.
• Show a complete mechanism.
• WHY is the process generally slow?
Copyright 2012 John
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-26
• LAH can reduce an amide to an amine.
• The mechanism is quite
different from the others
we have seen in this
chapter.
• When the H- attacks,
which is the best leaving
group?
21.12 Preparation and Reactions of Amides
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-27
21.8 Preparation and Reaction of Acid Chlorides
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21.9 Preparation and Reactions of Acid Anhydrides
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Klein, Organic Chemistry 1e 21-29
CYUQ 15?
1. No errors
2. 1 error
3. 2 errors
4. 3 or more errors
5. Not sure
6. Need more time
21.14 Synthetic Strategies
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Pg 117
1. No errors
2. 1 error
3. 2 errors
4. 3 or more errors
5. Not sure
6. Need more time