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Formation
| Esters can be formed by the intermolecular dehydration
reaction of a carboxylic acid with an alcohol. (A similar example is also
written out for you in Example 14 in your workbook.) Note that this is a reversible
reaction. Note also that water is formed in this reaction. This water molecule is a result
of an intermolecular dehydration reaction. |
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| There is an -OH group from the carboxylic acid combining with
the hydrogen from the alcohol to form water. So we can say that water is being split out
between these two compounds. These intermolecular dehydration reactions are very common
types of reactions and very important ones, biologically. By the way, intermolecular
dehydration reactions are sometimes called condensation reactions. |
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E-mail instructor:
Sue Eggling
Clackamas Community College
©2001, 2003 Clackamas Community College, Hal Bender
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![Equation showning formation of ester. [64rxn11.JPG]](images/64rxn11.JPG)