Carboxylic acids
Preparation of carboxylic acids
1. oxidation of a primary alcohol
2. Oxidation of an aldehyde
3. Hydrolysis of a nitrile
4. Hydrolysis of an ester
5. Hydrolysis of an ester
Reactions of carboxylic acids Carboxylic acids behave as typical acids in aqueous solution and form salts by reacting with metals and bases(including alkalis). They undergo condensation reactions with alcohols to form esters. Carboxylic acids react with amines to form amides. They can be reduced to primary alcohols using lithium aluminium hydride Carboxylic acids are extremely versatile compounds which can be used to synthesise many useful products.
1. Carboxylic acids and metals Carboxylic acid + metal salt + hydrogen 2CH3COOH (aq) + Mg (s) Mg 2+ (CH3COO-)2 (aq) + H2 (g) Magnesium reacts with ethanoic acid to produce magnesium ethanoate and hydrogen gas.
2. Carboxylic acids and bases Carboxylic acid + base salt + water + carbon dioxide CH3COOH(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) 2Na+CH3COO-(aq) + H2O (l) + CO2(g)
3. Ester formation
4. With amino groups to form amide links
5. Reduction with Lithium aluminium hydride to form primary alcohols.