3.4.6

Acyl Chlorides & Acylation

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Formation of Acyl Chlorides

Acyl chlorides can be produced by reacting carboxylic acids with an inorganic compound called thionyl chloride (sulphur dichloride oxide).

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Acyl chlorides

  • Acyl chlorides can be derived from carboxylic acids.
    • Acyl chlorides are also known as acid chlorides.
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Carboxylic acid to acyl chloride

  • Acyl chlorides are produced from a reaction between sulphur dichloride oxide (SOCl2) and a carboxylic acid.
    • Hydrogen chloride and sulphur dioxide gases are produced in the reaction.
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Obtaining purity

  • Fractional distillation can be used to remove excess reagents from the acyl chloride.
    • Hydrogen chloride and sulphur dioxide are given off as gases.

Acylation

Acylation reactions can be used to produce a variety of organic compounds, like amides.

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Compounds

  • The above compounds are examples of acylated materials.
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Nucleophilic addition-elimination

  • The nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction happens with acyl chlorides and acid anhydrides.
  • It is used to produce amides, carboxylic acids, and esters.
  • An example is the production of ethyl ethanoate from ethanoyl chloride (an acyl chloride) with ethanol.
    • Ethanoyl chloride reacts with cold ethanol in a highly exothermic reaction. HCl is evolved as a gas and ethyl ethanoate is produced:
    • The overall reaction and mechanism is shown on the next slide.
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Phenyl benzoate

  • Another example of such a reaction is the production of phenyl benzoate.
  • Phenol (C6H5OH) reacts with benzoyl chloride (C6H5COCl) in the presence of NaOH and heat to produce phenyl benzoate.
  • The equation for this reaction is shown below:
    • C6H5OH + C6H5COCl → C6H5COOC6H5 + HCl

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

1.1Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.2Atomic Structure

1.3Chemical Bonding

1.4States of Matter

1.5Chemical Energetics

1.6Electrochemistry

1.7Equilibria

1.8Partition Coefficient

1.9Reaction Kinetics

2Inorganic Chemistry

3Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.2Hydrocarbons

3.3Halogen Derivatives

3.4Hydroxy Compounds

3.5Carbonyl Compounds

3.6Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.7Nitrogen Compounds

3.8Polymerisation

3.9Analytical Techniques

3.10Organic Synthesis

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