🥼Organic Chemistry Unit 21 – Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Acyl Substitution

Key Concepts

• Carboxylic acid derivatives include esters, amides, acid anhydrides, and acid chlorides
• Acyl substitution reactions involve the replacement of the -OH group in a carboxylic acid with a different nucleophile
• Reactivity of carboxylic acid derivatives follows the order: acid chlorides > anhydrides > esters > amides
• Mechanism of acyl substitution reactions proceeds through a tetrahedral intermediate
• Nucleophilicity and leaving group ability play crucial roles in the reactivity of carboxylic acid derivatives
• Carboxylic acid derivatives can be interconverted through various synthetic routes
• Spectroscopic techniques (IR, NMR) are used to characterize and distinguish between different carboxylic acid derivatives

Nomenclature and Structure

• Esters are named as alkyl alkanoates (methyl acetate)
• Amides are named as alkanamides (ethanamide)
• Acid anhydrides are named as alkanoic anhydrides (acetic anhydride)
• Acid chlorides are named as alkanoyl chlorides (acetyl chloride)
• Esters have a general structure of R-COO-R', where R and R' are alkyl or aryl groups
  • The carbonyl carbon is sp2 hybridized, resulting in a planar geometry around the ester group
• Amides have a general structure of R-CONH2 or R-CONHR', where R and R' are alkyl or aryl groups
  • The nitrogen atom in amides is sp2 hybridized, resulting in a planar geometry and resonance stabilization
• Acid anhydrides have a general structure of (RCO)2O, where two acyl groups are joined by an oxygen atom
• Acid chlorides have a general structure of R-COCl, where the -OH group is replaced by a chlorine atom

Reactivity and Mechanisms

• Acyl substitution reactions follow a two-step mechanism: addition of the nucleophile to form a tetrahedral intermediate, followed by elimination of the leaving group
• The rate-determining step in acyl substitution reactions is the formation of the tetrahedral intermediate
• Acid chlorides are the most reactive due to the excellent leaving group ability of the chloride ion
• Anhydrides are more reactive than esters due to the presence of two electron-withdrawing acyl groups
• Esters are more reactive than amides due to the better leaving group ability of alkoxides compared to amines
• Nucleophiles in acyl substitution reactions can be neutral (amines, alcohols) or anionic (alkoxides, amides)
• Steric hindrance around the carbonyl group can affect the reactivity of carboxylic acid derivatives
• Resonance stabilization in amides reduces their reactivity compared to other carboxylic acid derivatives

Synthesis and Reactions

• Esters can be synthesized by the reaction of carboxylic acids with alcohols (Fischer esterification) or by the reaction of acid chlorides with alcohols
• Amides can be synthesized by the reaction of acid chlorides or anhydrides with amines
• Acid anhydrides can be synthesized by the dehydration of carboxylic acids using acetic anhydride or phosphorus pentoxide
• Acid chlorides can be synthesized by the reaction of carboxylic acids with thionyl chloride or phosphorus pentachloride
• Hydrolysis of esters, amides, and acid chlorides yields carboxylic acids
  • Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of esters is called ester hydrolysis or saponification
• Transesterification reactions involve the exchange of alkoxy groups between an ester and an alcohol
• Amides can be reduced to amines using strong reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4)

Spectroscopy and Characterization

• Infrared (IR) spectroscopy can be used to identify the presence of carbonyl groups in carboxylic acid derivatives
  • Esters show a strong C=O stretching band around 1735-1750 cm-1
  • Amides show a strong C=O stretching band around 1630-1690 cm-1 and N-H stretching bands around 3300-3500 cm-1
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can provide structural information about carboxylic acid derivatives
  • 1H NMR can identify the presence of alpha hydrogens adjacent to the carbonyl group and the N-H protons in amides
  • 13C NMR can identify the carbonyl carbon, which appears around 160-180 ppm depending on the specific derivative
• Mass spectrometry can be used to determine the molecular mass and fragmentation patterns of carboxylic acid derivatives
• Melting point and boiling point data can help distinguish between different carboxylic acid derivatives

Applications in Organic Synthesis

• Carboxylic acid derivatives serve as versatile building blocks in organic synthesis
• Esters can be used as protecting groups for carboxylic acids and can be selectively deprotected under mild conditions
• Amides are important intermediates in the synthesis of peptides and proteins
  • Peptide coupling reactions involve the formation of amide bonds between amino acids
• Acid chlorides are highly reactive and can be used to introduce acyl groups into molecules
• Weinreb amides (N-methoxy-N-methylamides) are useful for the controlled synthesis of ketones and aldehydes
• The Claisen condensation reaction between esters or ester enolates leads to the formation of β-keto esters
• The malonic ester synthesis is a powerful method for the preparation of substituted acetic acids

Biological Relevance

• Esters are found in natural products like fats, oils, and waxes
  • Triglycerides are triesters of glycerol and fatty acids, serving as energy storage molecules
• Amides are the key functional group in proteins, formed by the condensation of amino acids
  • The peptide bond is an amide linkage between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another
• Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is an ester derivative of salicylic acid, used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug
• Penicillins and cephalosporins are antibiotics containing a β-lactam ring, which is a cyclic amide
• Polyesters and polyamides are important synthetic polymers with a wide range of applications (Kevlar, Nylon)
• Many enzymes (proteases, lipases) catalyze the hydrolysis of ester and amide bonds in biological systems

Practice Problems and Tips

• Practice drawing the structures of carboxylic acid derivatives given their names, and vice versa
• Work through the mechanisms of acyl substitution reactions, focusing on the role of nucleophiles and leaving groups
• Practice predicting the products of reactions involving carboxylic acid derivatives, considering factors like reactivity and reaction conditions
• Use retrosynthetic analysis to plan the synthesis of target molecules containing carboxylic acid derivatives
• Pay attention to the spectroscopic data (IR, NMR) of different carboxylic acid derivatives and learn to identify key features
• Solve problems involving the interconversion of carboxylic acid derivatives and their applications in organic synthesis
• Relate the concepts learned to biological examples and understand the importance of esters and amides in living systems
• When solving synthesis problems, consider the reactivity order of carboxylic acid derivatives and choose the appropriate reagents and conditions