Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives Flashcards
What is the functional group of carboxylic acids?
-COOH
What is general formula of carboxylic acids?
CnH2n+1COOH / RCO2H
where
R = H, alkyl, aryl grp
Describe nomenclature of carboxylic acids
- take alkane name, remove ‘-e’ and replace w -oic acid
eg butane –> butanoic acid - if >1 -COOH in molecule, retain ‘e’ and add suitable prefix for no of -COOH
eg ethanoic acid –> ethanedioic acid - parent chain = longest carbon chain w -COOH grp
- C atom of carboxylic acid grp is ALWAYS assigned pos n 1
Explain why boiling points of carboxylic acids are higher than those of corresponding alcohols?
- Presence of e- withdraw carbonyl grp in RCOOH cause more polar O-H bond, so stronger H bonding
- Most carboxylic acid exist as cyclic dimers held tgt by 2 H bonds => immediately double size of molecule, increase id-id forces btw one of these dimers & its neighbours, cause higher bp than corresponding alcool
Why can’t carboxylic acids form dimers in aqueous state?
- RCOOH form H bond w water molecules instead (since more H2O molecules so less probability of dimer n)
Explain solubility of carboxylic acids in water
- small molecular size RCOOH are soluble
bcos
- energy released by form n H bond btw RCOOH & H2O molecules enough overcome intermolecular H bond btw RCOOH & H2o molecules respectively - as molecular size increase, RCOOH bcome increasingly insoluble
bcos
- larger non-polar R grp make RCOOH more hydrophobic
- main interact n btw larger RCOOH & H2O molecules bcome id-id attract n instead
so
- energy released fr id-id attract n btw RCOOH & H2O molecules insufficient overcome intermolecular H bonds btw H2O & RCOOH molecules respectively (& id-id btw RCOOH molecules)
Name reagent, conditions, type of reaction for primary alcohol/aldehyde and oxygen
R&C: KMnO4 (aq), H+, heat OR K2Cr2O7, H+, heat
type: oxidat n
Name reagent, conditions, type of reaction for alkyl side chain of benzene ring and oxygen
R&C: KMnO4, H+, heat (CANNOT USE K2Cr2O7)
type: oxidat n
NOTE: need at least one H bonded to immediate C to benzene ring; whole alkyl bcome oni -COOH
Name reagent, conditions, type of reaction for nitrile and acid
R&C: HCl(aq)/H2SO4(aq), heat
type: acidic hydrolysis
Name reagent, conditions, type of reaction for nitrile and base and then acid
R&C:
NaOH(aq)/KOH(aq), heat
THEN, HCl (aq)/H2SO4(aq)
type: basic hydrolysis then neutralisat n
Why are carboxylic acids generally stronger than alcohols and phenols?
- In RCOO- anion, delocal n of -ve charge is over C atom & both electro-ve O atom
- -ve charge on RCOO- more delocalised than that of phenoxide & alkoxide ion/ intensity of -ve charge on RCOO- is less
=> RCOO- ion more stable than phenoxide/alkoxide ion - greater tendency for carboxylic acid to ionise
In general, substituents may … or … electrons (as compared to o-H group)
donate or withdraw
How do electron-donating substituents affect acidity?
- cause decrease acidity
bcos, - e-donate grp increase intensity of -ve charge on carboxylate anion
- anion/conj base is less stable
(the bulkier R grp, slight increase in e- donate effect)
How do electron-withdrawing substituents affect acidity?
increase acidity
bcos,
- e-withdraw grp reduce intensity of -ve charge on carboxylate anion to greater extent
- anion/ conj base is more stable
How do number, strength and distance (from charge position) of substituent groups affect electron withdrawing/ donating effect?
- number
eg more e-withdraw grp => greater e- withdraw effect - strength
eg the more electro-ve atom => greater e-withdraw effect - distance
eg nearer to carboxylate grp => greater e-withdraw effect
Compare acid strength of chloroethanoic acid and ethanoic acid
- for CH2ClCOOH, e- withdraw Cl atom reduce intensity of -ve charge on carboxylate anion to greater extent
=> stabilise anion - stability of carboxylate anion: CH2ClCOO- > CH3COO-
- tendency for acid to dissociate: chloroethanoic acid > ethanoic acid
- acid strength: chloroethanoic acid > ethanoic acid