ESTER

1. Classification
● A class of organic compounds that react with water to produce alcohols and
organic or inorganic acids.

STRUCTURE: ● Simple Esters - e.g., methyl acetate

● Complex Esters - e.g., glyceryl triacetate

SOURCE: ● Natural Esters - e.g., isoamyl acetate (banana aroma), ethyl

hexanoate (apple aroma).
● Synthetic Esters- e.g., ethyl benzoate, butyl acetate

● Hydrolyzable - Break down into original carboxylic acid and alcohol components
through hydrolysis with water and a catalyst.
● Non-hydrolyzable - Resistant to hydrolysis under normal conditions.

USAGE-BASED: Flavor and Fragrance, Plasticizer, Solvent, Pharmaceutical, Industrial

2. Description

● A chemical compound formed when an acid reacts with alcohol. An ester is

named by combining the name of an alcohol - derived element with the name
of the acid - derived element.

3. Physical and chemical properties

● Odor - Esters are known for their characteristic pleasant and fruity odors, which
often resemble the smells of fruits or flowers.
● Boiling Point - Generally have lower boiling points compared to other organic
compounds such as alcohols or carboxylic acids.
● Hydrolysis - Undergo reactions in the presence of water or aqueous solutions of
acids or bases.
● Density - Esters have lower densities than water, meaning they float on the surface
of water.
● Color - Esters are typically colorless, but some can have a slight yellowish tint.

4. 3 examples of Ester, Uses, Nomenclature (IUPAC)

Nomenclature of Esters (IUPAC)
The group name of the alkyl or aryl portion [from the alcohol] is given first and is followed
by the name of the acid portion [carbon double bonded with oxygen]. As per the
recommendation of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC),
esters nomenclature will have the suffix -oate.
Examples of esters and their uses
Ester (IUPAC Name) Uses

Ethyl propanoate Used in perfumery and fragrance

Propyl methanoate Used as a flavoring agent

Methyl butanoate Used as a solvent, fragrance, and flavoring agent

5. Preparation

● Esterification is a process or a general name for a chemical reaction, in which two

reactants (alcohol and an acid) form an ester as the reaction product.
● Esters are carboxylic acid derivatives with -COOR as a functional group, in which
the -OH group of the carboxylic acid is replaced by the -OR group.

Method 1: Making Esters using of carboxylic acids with alcohols

 Esters are formed when carboxylic acids are heated with alcohol in the presence
of an acid catalyst, typically concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4). So, for example,
if you were making methyl propanoate from propanoic acid (C 2H5COOH) and
methano (CH3OH )l, the equation would be:

+
Method 2: Making Esters Using Acyl Chlorides (Acid Chlorides)

Acid chlorides can easily be converted into esters by reacting with alcohols. A
base such as pyridine is usually added to speed up the process by deprotonating
the positively charged intermediate:

6. Simple reactions equation form

Esterification
- a reaction in which a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, heated in the presence of
a mineral acid catalyst, form an ester and water

Carboxylic Acid Alcohol Ester Water (byproduct)

Saponification
- the hydrolysis of an ester to form an alcohol and the salt of a carboxylic acid in
acidic or essential conditions.