Mary Catherine Sarte, John Emmanuel Sy, Allurie Umel,Franklin Yap,
Mary Christine YouIntroduction Carboxylic acids derivatives are simply groupsof compounds that contain a carbonyl group butwith an electronegative atom attached to thecarbon. The difference in the structure leads to amajor change in reactivity. The reactions of thesegroups of compounds involve nucleophilicsubstitution. Although there are abundant kindsof carboxylic acid derivatives, the experimentonly focuses on the common ones: acid halides,acid anhydrides, esters and amides.Carboxylic acids and their derivatives areusually seen in industrial processes and mostbiological pathways. Esters can be seen as fatsand within the cell membrane. Esters are alsopresent in pleasant smelling liquids that areresponsible with the fragrant odor of fruits andflowers. Amides are also present in animalprotein and also in industrial products such asnylon. Acid chlorides and acid anhydrides areused in the synthesis of carboxylic derivatives.These are not usually found in nature because of its high reactivity property.One property of carboxylic acids is that theyare acidic. Because of these, carboxylic acids aremostly made to react with bases such as NaOH toyield a water soluble metal carboxylates.Carboxylic acids and their derivatives reactwith nucleophiles which yields a formation of alcohol. The initially formed intermediate productexpels one of its substituents which is originallybonded to the carbonyl carbon forming a newcarbonyl compound. The reaction is callednucleophilic acyl substitution reaction.The procedure for acyl halides, acid anhydrides,esters and amides is hydrolysis. Hydrolysis issimply the reaction with water to yield acarboxylic acid. Also for acetyl chloride isalcoholysis: Schotten-Bauman Reaction. It is thereaction with an alcohol to yield an ester. Thealcohol used here was ethanol. Again for acetylchloride and acetic anhydride, the