Draw the mechanism for the reaction of an acid chloride with an alcohol to form an ester

First thing to remember is that when drawing curly arrows, the arrows start where the electrons start and finish where the electrons end up. For this reaction the lone pair of electrons on the oxygen from the alcohol attacks the carbon of the carbonyl group and an electron pair from the C=O bond gets pushed up onto the oxygen. This format an intermediate. The alcohol group is now positive so looses an H+, the chlorine is kicked out becoming Cl_ and the double bond (C=O) reforms. (mechanism would be drawn on whiteboard)

HR
Answered by Hannah R. Chemistry tutor

3223 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

There are two stable isotopes of Bromine, Br-79, Br-81. If a sample of Br2 is fed into a mass spectrometer, how many peaks would be observed in the spectrum?


In terms of structure and bonding explain why the boiling point of magnesium is much higher than that of bromine?


State how you would test a solution for the presence of sulfate ions? Explain, using an ionic equation, what you would expect to observe in the presence of sulfate ions.


Arrange the following elements in order of increasing ionization energy. Give an explanation. a) K, Cs, Na b) F, N, Be


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning