Carboxylic acids and it's Derivatives

Contributed by:
Jonathan James
The highlights are:
1. Carboxylic compounds
2. Naming Carboxylic acid derivatives
3. Nucleophilic acyl substitution
4. Fisher Esterification
5. Chemistry of acid halides
6. Chemistry of acid anhydrides
7. Chemistry of esters
8. Chemistry of amides
9. Spectroscopy
1. Chapter 21. Carboxylic Acid
Derivatives and Nucleophilic
Acyl Substitution Reactions
Based on McMurry’s Organic Chemistry, 6th
©2003 Ronald Kluger
Department of Chemistry
University of Toronto
2. Carboxylic Compounds
 Acyl group bonded to Y, an electronegative atom or
leaving group
 Includes: Y = halide (acid halides), acyloxy
(anhydrides), alkoxy (esters), amine (amides),
thiolate (thioesters), phosphate (acyl phosphates)
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 2
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
3. General Reaction Pattern
 Nucleophilic acyl substitution
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 3
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
4. 21.1 Naming Carboxylic Acid
 Acid Halides, RCOX
 Derived from the carboxylic acid name by replacing the
-ic acid ending with -yl or the -carboxylic acid ending
with –carbonyl and specifying the halide
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 4
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
5. Naming Acid Anhydrides, RCO2COR'
 If symnmetrical replace “acid” with “anhydride” based on
the related carboxylic acid (for symmetrical anhydrides)
 From substituted monocarboxylic acids: use bis- ahead
of the acid name
 Unsymmetrical anhydrides— cite the two acids
alphabetically
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 5
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
6. Naming Amides, RCONH2
 With unsubstituted NH2 group. replace -oic acid or -
ic acid with -amide, or by replacing the -carboxylic
acid ending with –carboxamide
 If the N is further substituted, identify the substituent
groups (preceded by “N”) and then the parent amide
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 6
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
7. Naming Esters, RCO2R
 Name R’ and then, after a space, the carboxylic acid
(RCOOH), with the “-ic acid” ending replaced by “-
ate”
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 7
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
8. 21.2 Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution
 Carboxylic acid
derivatives have an acyl
carbon bonded to a
group Y that can leave
 A tetrahedral
intermediate is formed
and the leaving group is
expelled to generate a
new carbonyl compound,
leading to substitution
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 8
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
9. Relative Reactivity of Carboxylic Acid
 Nucleophiles react
more readily with
unhindered carbonyl
groups
 More electrophilic
carbonyl groups are
more reactive to
addition (acyl halides
are most reactive,
amides are least)
 The intermediate with
the best leaving group
decomposes fastest
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 9
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
10. Substitution in Synthesis
 We can readily convert a more reactive acid
derivative into a less reactive one
 Reactions in the opposite sense are possible but
require more complex approaches
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 10
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
11. General Reactions of Carboxylic Acid
 water
˝carboxylic acid
 alcohols ˝ esters
 ammonia or an
amine ˝ an amide
 hydride source ˝
an aldehyde or an
alcohol
 Grignard reagent
˝ a ketone or an
alcohol
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 11
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
12. 21.3 Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution
Reactions of Carboxylic Acids
 Must enhance reactivity
 Convert OH into a better leaving group
 Specific reagents can produce acid chlorides,
anhydrides, esters, amides
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 12
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
13. Conversion of Carboxylic Acids into
Acid Chlorides
 Reaction with thionyl chloride, SOCl2
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 13
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
14. Mechanism of Thionyl Chloride
 Nucleophilic acyl substitution pathway
 Carboxylic acid is converted into a chlorosulfite
which then reacts with chloride
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 14
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
15. Conversion of Carboxylic Acids into
Acid Anhydrides
 Heat cyclic dicarboxylic acids that can form five- or
six-membered rings
 Acyclic anhydrides are not generally formed this way
- they are usually made from acid chlorides and
carboxylic acids
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 15
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
16. Conversion of Carboxylic Acids into
 Methods include reaction of a carboxylate anion with
a primary alkyl halide
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 16
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
17. Fischer Esterification
 Heating a carboxylic acid in an alcohol solvent
containing a small amount of strong acid produces an
ester from the alcohol and acid
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 17
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
18. Mechanism of the Fischer
 The reaction is an acid-catalyzed, nucleophilic acyl
substitution of a carboxylic acid
 When 18O-labeled methanol reacts with benzoic acid,
the methyl benzoate produced is 18O-labeled but the
water produced is unlabeled
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 18
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
19. Fischer Esterification: Detailed
Mechanism
3
2 4
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 19
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
20. 21.4 Chemistry of Acid Halides
 Acid chlorides are prepared from carboxylic acids by
reaction with SOCl2
 Reaction of a carboxylic acid with PBr3 yields the acid
bromide
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 20
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
21. Reactions of Acid Halides
 Nucleophilic acyl substitution
 Halogen replaced by OH, by OR, or by NH2
 Reduction yields a primary alcohol
 Grignard reagent yields a tertiary alcohol
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 21
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
22. Hydrolysis: Conversion of Acid
Halides into Acids
 Acid chlorides react with water to yield carboxylic
acids
 HCl is generated during the hydrolysis: a base is
added to remove the HCl
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 22
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
23. Conversion of Acid Halides to Esters
 Esters are produced in the reaction of acid chlorides
react with alcohols in the presence of pyridine or
NaOH
 The reaction is better with less steric bulk
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 23
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
24. Aminolysis: Conversion of Acid
Halides into Amides
 Amides result from the reaction of acid chlorides with
NH3, primary (RNH2) and secondary amines (R2NH)
 The reaction with tertiary amines (R3N) gives an
unstable species that cannot be isolated
 HCl is neutralized by the amine or an added base
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 24
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
25. Reduction: Conversion of Acid
Chlorides into Alcohols
 LiAlH4 reduces acid chlorides to yield aldehydes and
then primary alcohols
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 25
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
26. Reaction of Acid Chlorides with
Organometallic Reagents
 Grignard reagents react with acid chlorides to yield
tertiary alcohols in which two of the substituents are
the same
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 26
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
27. Formation of Ketones from Acid Chlorides
 Reaction of an acid chloride with a lithium
diorganocopper (Gilman) reagent, Li+ R2Cu
 Addition produces an acyl diorganocopper
intermediate, followed by loss of RCu and formation
of the ketone
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 27
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
28. 21.5 Chemistry of Acid Anhydrides
 Prepared by nucleophilic of a carboxylate with
an acid chloride
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 28
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
29. Reactions of Acid Anhydrides
 Similar to acid chlorides in reactivity
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 29
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
30.  Acetic anhydride forms acetate esters from
alcohols and N-substituted acetamides from
amines
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 30
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
31. 21.6 Chemistry of Esters
 Many esters are pleasant-smelling liquids: fragrant
odors of fruits and flowers
 Also present in fats and vegetable oils
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 31
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
32. Preparation of Esters
 Esters are usually prepared from carboxylic acids
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 32
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
33. Reactions of Esters
 Less reactive toward nucleophiles than are acid
chlorides or anhydrides
 Cyclic esters are called lactones and react similarly to
acyclic esters
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 33
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
34. Hydrolysis: Conversion of Esters into
Carboxylic Acids
 An ester is hydrolyzed by aqueous base or aqueous
acid to yield a carboxylic acid plus an alcohol
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 34
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
35. Mechanism of Ester Hydrolysis
 Hydroxide catalysis via an addition intermediate
1
3
2 4
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 35
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
36. Evidence from Isotope Labelling
 O in the ether-like oxygen in ester winds up
18
exclusively in the ethanol product
 None of the label remains with the propanoic acid,
indicating that saponification occurs by cleavage of
the C–OR bond rather than the CO–R bond
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 36
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
37. Acid Catalyzed Ester Hydrolysis
 The usual pathway is the reverse of the Fischer
esterification
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 37
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
38. Aminolysis of Esters
 Ammonia reacts with esters to form amides
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 38
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
39. Reduction: Conversion of Esters into
 Reaction with LiAlH4 yields primary alcohols
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 39
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
40. Mechanism of Reduction of Esters
 Hydride ion adds to the carbonyl group, followed by
elimination of alkoxide ion to yield an aldehyde
 Reduction of the aldehyde gives the primary alcohol
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 40
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
41. Partial Reduction to Aldehydes
 Use one equivalent of diisobutylaluminum hydride
(DIBAH = ((CH3)2CHCH2)2AlH)) instead of LiAlH4
 Low temperature to avoid further reduction to the
alcohol
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 41
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
42. Reaction of Esters with Grignard
 React with 2 equivalents of a Grignard reagent to
yield a tertiary alcohol
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 42
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
43. 21.7 Chemistry of Amides
 Prepared by reaction of an acid chloride with
ammonia, monosubstituted amines, or disubstituted
amines
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 43
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
44. Reactions of Amides
 Heating in either aqueous acid or aqueous base
produces a carboxylic acid and amine
 Acidic hydrolysis by nucleophilic addition of water to the
protonated amide, followed by loss of ammonia
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 44
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
45. Basic Hydrolysis of Amides
 Addition of hydroxide and loss of amide ion
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 45
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
46. Reduction: Conversion of Amides into
 Reduced by LiAlH4 to an amine rather than an alcohol
 Converts C=O  CH2
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 46
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
47. Mechanism of Reduction
 Addition of hydride to carbonyl group
 Loss of the oxygen as an aluminate anion to give an
iminium ion intermediate which is reduced to the
amine
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 47
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
48. Uses of Reduction of Amides
 Works with cyclic and acyclic
 Good route to cyclic amines
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 48
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
49. 21.8 Thioesters and Acyl Phosphates: Biological
Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
 Nucleophilic carboxyl substitution in nature often
involves a thioester or acyl phosphate
 These have unique binding properties and are readily
activated by enzymes
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 49
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
50. 21.9 Polyamides and Polyesters: Step-
Growth Polymers
 Reactions occur in distinct linear steps, not as chain
reactions
 Reaction of a diamine and a diacid chloride gives an
ongoing cycle that produces a polyamide
 A diol with a diacid leads to a polyester
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 50
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
51. Polyamides (Nylons)
 Heating a diamine with a diacid produces a
polyamide called Nylon®
 Nylon 66® is from adipic acid and hexamethylene-
diamine at 280°C
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 51
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
52.  The polyester from dimethyl terephthalate and
ethylene glycol is called Dacron® and Mylar® to make
fibers
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 52
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
53. 21.10 Spectroscopy of Carboxylic
Acid Derivatives
 Infrared Spectroscopy
 Acid chlorides absorb near 1800 cm1
 Acid anhydrides absorb at 1820 cm1 and also at
1760 cm1
 Esters absorb at 1735 cm1, higher than
aldehydes or ketones
 Amides absorb near the low end of the carbonyl
region
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 53
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
54. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
 Hydrogens on the carbon next to a C=O are near 2
in the 1H NMR spectrum.
 All acid derivatives absorb in the same range so NMR
does not distinguish them from each other
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 54
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003
55. C NMR
 C NMR is useful for determining the presence or
13
absence of a carbonyl group in a molecule of
unknown structure
 Carbonyl carbon atoms of the various acid derivatives
absorb from 160 to 180
Based on McMurry, Organic Chemistry, Chapter 2 55
1, 6th edition, (c) 2003