FISCHER ESTERFICATION

Fischer Esterification

Fischer-Speier Esterification

The Lewis or Brønstedt acid-catalyzed esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols to give esters is a typical reaction in which the products and reactants are in equilibrium.

The equilibrium may be influenced by either removing one product from the reaction mixture (for example, removal of the water by azeotropic distillation or absorption by molecular sieves) or by employing an excess of one reactant.

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Mechanism of the Fischer Esterification

Addition of a proton (e.g.: p-TsOH, H₂SO₄) or a Lewis acid leads to a more reactive electrophile. Nucleophilic attack of the alcohol gives a tetrahedral intermediate in which there are two equivalent hydroxyl groups. One of these hydroxyl groups is eliminated after a proton shift (tautomerism) to give water and the ester.

Alternative reactions employ coupling reagents such as DCC (Steglich Esterification), preformed esters (transesterification), carboxylic acid chlorides or anhydrides (see overview). These reactions avoid the production of water. Another pathway for the production of esters is the formation of a carboxylate anion, which then reacts as a nucleophile with an electrophile (similar reactions can be found here).

 Esters may also be produced by oxidations, namely by the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation and oxidative esterifications.

Recent Literature

Direct ester condensation from a 1:1 mixture of carboxylic acids and alcohols catalyzed by hafnium(IV) or zirconium(IV) salts

Bulky Diarylammonium Arenesulfonates as Selective Esterification Catalysts

FeCl₃·6H₂O as a Versatile Catalyst for the Esterification of Steroid Alcohols with Fatty Acids

Direct Atom-Efficient Esterification between Carboxylic Acids and Alcohols Catalyzed by Amphoteric, Water-Tolerant TiO(acac)₂

Protic Acid Immobilized on Solid Support as an Extremely Efficient Recyclable Catalyst System for a Direct and Atom Economical Esterification of Carboxylic Acids with Alcohols

Scandium(III) or lanthanide(III) triflates as recyclable catalysts for the direct acetylation of alcohols with acetic acid

Silica Chloride: A Versatile Heterogeneous Catalyst for Esterification and Transesterification

Graphene oxide is an efficient and reusable acid catalyst for the esterification reaction. A wide range of aliphatic and aromatic acids and alcohols were compatible and afforded the corresponding products in good yields. The heterogeneous catalyst can be easily recovered and recycled.

Al₂O₃/MeSO₃H (AMA) as a new reagent with high selective ability for monoesterification of diols

Efficient Synthesis of 2-Amino Acid by Homologation of β²-Amino Acids Involving the Reformatsky Reaction and Mannich-Type Imminium Electrophile