Carboxylic Acid Derivatives (Chapter 20) Flashcards
What characteristics causes acyl halides to be highly reactive in addition-elimination reactions?
- The halide atom (bonded to the carbonyl Carbon) withdraws electron density from the carbonyl Carbon, which increases the electrophilicity of the Carbon.
- The halide atom is a stable leaving group, which causes nucleophilic attack at the carbonyl Carbon to be a favorable process.
Acyl Halide ⟶ Carboxylic Acid
Acyl Halide Hydrolysis
Irreversible
The acyl halide hydrolysis reaction is occurs very fast and is highly exothermic.
Acyl Halide ⟶ Ester
Acyl Halide Esterification
Irreversible
The acyl halide esterification reaction requires a weak base (i.e. Triethylamine).
Acyl Halide ⟶ Amide
Acyl Halide Amidification
Irreversible
Reagents: Acyl Halide Hydrolysis
Starting Material = Acyl Halide
H2O
A halide ion and acid (i.e. HX) are produced as byproducts of acyl halide hydrolysis.
Reagents: Acyl Halide Amidification
Starting Material = Acyl Halide
- Option #1: 2 Amine
- Option #2: Amine, N(Et)3
- Option #3: Amine, Pyridine
- Acyl Halide Amidification can occur only with 0°/1°/2° Amines. (Reactions of acyl halides with 3° Amines form acyl ammonium salts rather than amides.)
- The second reagent (Amine or N(Et)3 or Pyridine) is used to neutralize the HX byproduct to prevent amide hydrolysis.
Reagents: Acyl Halide Esterification
Starting Material = Acyl Halide
R—OH, N(Et)3
The N(Et)3 (triethylamine) catalyst is added to neutralize the HX byproduct of acyl halide esterification.
Why do acyl halide addition-elimination reactions not require a catalyst?
The carbonyl Carbon (of the acyl halide) is highly electrophilic due to the electron-withdrawing effect of the halide atom, so the nucleophile is readily able to attack the Carbon without catalyst activation.
Mechanism: Acyl Halide Addition-Elimination
- Nucleophilic Attack at the Carbonyl Carbon
- Intramolecular Proton Transfer to Neutralize Charges
- π-Electron Rearragement to Eliminate the Halide
- Depronotation to Yield Nonionic Carbonyl Group
Nucleophilic attack at the carbonyl Carbon forms a sp3-hybridized tetrahedral intermediate.
Examples: Acyl Halide Addition-Elimination Reactions
- Acyl Halide Hydrolysis
- Acyl Halide Esterification
- Acyl Halide Amidification
Why is protonation of the carbonyl Oxygen of acyl halides unfavorable?
The carbonyl Oxygen (of acyl halides) is weakly basic due to the poor positive-charge compatibility of the halide atom, so protonation results in a highly unstable conjugate acid compound.
Protonation of the carbonyl Carbon forms a resonance structure that places a positive charge on the halide atom. Since the halide is highly electronegative, it is highly unfavorable for it to possess a positive charge.
Why is Triethylamine added during acyl halide esterification?
- N(Et)3 neutralizes the HX byproduct to prevent the ester hydrolysis side reaction from occurring. (Esters are stable only under neutral conditions or mildly basic conditions.)
- N(Et)3 is a weak base, so it cannot deprotonate the alcohol reagent’s hydroxyl Hydrogen.
- N(Et)3 does not react with acyl halides (to form amides) due to the steric hindrance about the Nitrogen atom.
Carboxylic Acid ⟶ Ester
Two Mechanisms
- Heated Acid-Catalyzed Alcohol Addition
- Two-Step Substitution-Esterification
The two-step substitution-esterification mechanism is a more efficient means to synthesize esters (from carboxylic acids) than acid-catalyzed alcohol addition.
Carboxylic Acid ⟶ Amide
Two Mechanisms
- Heated Amine Addition
- Two-Step Substitution-Amidification
The two-step substitution-amidification mechanism is a more efficient means to synthesize amides (from carboxylic acids) than acid-catalyzed alcohol addition.
Reagents: Heated Amine Addition
Starting Material = Carboxylic Acid
Amine, Δ
High heat is required for heated amide addition to occur.
Reagents: Heated Acid-Catalyzed Alcohol Addition
Starting Material = Carboxylic Acid
R—OH + H2SO4, Δ
A strong acid catalyst (e.g. H2SO4) and high heat are required for acid-catalyzed alcohol addition to occur.
Reagents: Two-Step Substitution-Esterification
Starting Material = Carboxylic Acid
- SOCl2 / PBr3
- Alcohol, N(Et)3
Reagents: Two-Step Substitution-Amidification
Starting Material = Carboxylic Acid
- SOCl2 / PBr3
- Amine, N(Et)3
The N(Et)3 is added during the second step to neutralize the HX byproduct.
Heated Amine Addition vs. Two-Step Substitution-Amidification
Carboxylic Acid ⟶ Amide
- Substitution-Esterification can occur under standard reaction conditions, whereas Amide Addition requires high temperatures.
- Substitution-Esterification is irreversible, whereas Alcohol Addition is reversible.
Two-Step Substitution-Amidification is a more favorable reaction than Heated Amine Addition.
Acid-Catalyzed Alcohol Addition vs. Two-Step Substitution-Esterification
Carboxylic Acid ⟶ Ester
- Substitution-Esterification does not require a strong acid catalyst to occur, whereas Alcohol Addition does require a strong acid.
- Substitution-Esterification can occur under mild reaction conditions, whereas Alcohol Addition requires high temperatures.
- Substitution-Esterification is irreversible, whereas Alcohol Addition is reversible.
Two-Step Substitution-Esterification is a more favorable reaction than Acid-Catalyzed Alcohol Addition.
Drawbacks of Acid-Catalyzed Alcohol Addition
- The mechanism requires highly unstable reaction conditions (i.e. strong acids + high temperatures).
- The mechanism is reversible (via excess reagents or H2O removal).
Drawbacks of Heated Amine Addition
- The mechanism requires highly unstable reaction conditions (i.e. high temperatures).
- The mechanism is reversible (via excess reagents or H2O removal).
Acyl Halide ⟶ Anhydride
Acyl Halide Anhydride Synthesis
Reagents: Acyl Halide Anhydride Synthesis
R—O—OH, Δ
R—O—OH = Carboxylic Acid
The acyl halide anyhydride synthesis reaction produces acid (i.e. HX) as byproduct.
Mechanism: Acyl Halide Anhydride Synthesis
- The carbonyl Oxygen (of the carboxylic acid) attacks the carbonyl Carbon (of the acyl halide).
- An intramolecular proton transfer occurs to protonate the Oxygen of the halide-bonded Carbon.
- π-electron rearrangement forms an oxacarbenium intermediate and eliminates the halide.
- Deprotonation of the oxacarbenium Oxygen forms an anhydride compound.
Carboxylic Acid ⟶ Anhydride
Acyl Halide Anhydride Synthesis
The Carboxylic Acid Dehydration reaction can also be used to synthesize anhydrides (from carboxylic acids), but the mechanism is less efficient than Acyl Halide Anhydride Synthesis.
Reagents: Carboxylic Acid Dehydration
Starting Material = Carboxylic Acid
R—O—OH, Δ
R—O—OH = Carboxylic Acid
Why is Carboxylic Acid Dehydration less efficient than Acyl Halide Anhydride Synthesis?
Carboxylic Acid ⟶ Anhydride
Carboxylic acids are less reactive (i.e. less susceptible to nucleophilic attack) than acyl halides in addition-elimination mechanisms, so carboxylic acid dehydration occurs less readily.
Acyl halides are very reactive in addition-elimination mechanisms due to the carbonyl Carbon’s highly electrophilic character.
Acyl Halide ⟶ Ketone
Organocuprate Ketone Synthesis
Acyl Halide ⟶ ɑ,β-Unsaturated Ketone
(Alkenyl) Organocuprate Ketone Synthesis
Reagents: Organocuprate Ketone Synthesis
Starting Material = Acyl Halide
R2CuLi
R2CuLi = Organocuprate
Acyl halide ketone synthesis with an alkenyl organocuprate will yield an ɑ,β-unsaturated ketone.
Acyl Halide ⟶ 3° Alcohol
Hard Organometallic Acyl Halide Addition
Reagents: Hard Organometallic Acyl Halide Addition
- R—MgBr / R—Li
- H2SO4, H2O
Why does Hard Organometallic Acyl Halide Addition form a 3° alcohol instead of a ketone?
The hard organometallic reagents are highly nucleophilic (i.e. more nucleophilic than organocuprate reagents), so they will add to the acyl chloride reagent and the ketone intermediate product.
Two equivalents of the hard organometallic reagent are consumed during Hard Organometallic Acyl Halide Addition since the organometallic is reactive enough to add to the less-electrophilic carbonyl Carbon of the ketone intermediate.
Examples: Hard Organometallics
- R—MgBr (Grignard)
- R—Li (Organolithium)
Acyl Halide ⟶ Aldehyde
Acyl Halide Reduction
Reagents: Acyl Halide Reduction
LiAl(OtBu)3
LiAl(OtBu)3 = Lithium Tri-(t-Butoxy) Aluminum Hydride
Lithium Tri-(t-Butoxy) Aluminum Hydride
LiAl(OtBu)3
LiAl(OtBu)3 is a bulky (i.e. less reactive) hydride reagent.
Why does Acyl Hydride Reduction stop at the aldehyde stage?
Why does only one reduction step occur?
The LiAl(OtBu)3 reductant is a less reactive reducing agent, so it is unable to add to the less-electrophilic aldehyde product.
Why are anhydride compounds less electrophilic than acyl halides?
The carbonyl Carbons of an anhydride are neighbored by a resonance-donating Oxygen atom. (The strong electron donation effect of the Oxygen reduces the carbonyl Carbon’s electrophilic character.)
Less Electrophilic = Less Reactive
Which types of compounds predominantly engage in addition-eliminiation mechanisms?
- Acyl Halides
- Anhydrides
Addition-Elimination: Acyl Halides vs. Anhydride Compounds
- Leaving Group The leaving group for Acyl Halide AE is a halide anion, whereas the leaving group for Anhydride AE is a carboxylate anion.
- Kinetics: The Acyl Halide AE reaction is fast, whereas the Anhydride AE reaction is slower.
- Thermodynamics: The Acyl Halide AE reaction is highly exothermic, whereas the Anhydride AE reaction is slightly exothermic.
AE = Addition-Elimination
Anhydride ⟶ Carboxylic Acid
Anhydride Hydrolysis
The Anhydride Hydrolysis reaction creates two carboxylic acid molecules per every one anhydride molecule.
Reagents: Anhydride Hydrolysis
Starting Material = Anhydride
H2O
Acetic Anhydride
(CH3OC)—O—(COCH3)
Anhydride ⟶ Ether + Carboxylic Acid
Non-Catalyzed Anhydride Esterification
Acyl Halide Esterification vs. Anhydride Esterification
Reagents
- Acyl Halide Esterification: Reaction requires alchol (R—OH) and Triethylamine (N—Et3) to occur.
- Anhydride Esterification: Reaction requires only alcohol (R—OH) occur.
In Acyl Halide Esterification, the Triethylamine must be added to neutralize the strongly acidic H—X byproduct. In Anhydride Esterification, a strongly acidic byproduct is not formed, so no Triethylamine is necessary.
Reagents: Non-Catalyzed Anhydride Esterification
Starting Material = Anhydride
R—OH
Why does Non-Catalyzed Anhydride Esterification form a carboxylic acid byproduct?
Why does the non-catalyzed mechanism form one ester molecule?
The carboxylic acid byproduct is not sufficiently electrophilic to react with the alcohol reagent without an acid catalyst.
An acid catalyst would activate the carboxylic acid byproduct to allow the alcohol reagent to add to the CA’s carbonyl Carbon. (The result of this addition reaction is the formation of an ester.)