9 2
Reactions
Involving
Cleavage of
C–OH Bond
Rationalised 2023-24
252
Chemistry
Mechanism of esterification of carboxylic acids: The esterification of carboxylic
acids with alcohols is a kind of nucleophilic acyl substitution Protonation of the
carbonyl oxygen activates the carbonyl group towards nucleophilic addition of the
alcohol Proton transfer in the tetrahedral intermediate converts the hydroxyl group
into –
+OH2 group, which, being a better leaving group, is eliminated as neutral water
molecule