A Study of Reaction of n-Butyl Alcohol and n-ButyricAcid in presence of Thionyl Chloride

Abstract

Esterification reaction between n-butyl alcohol and n-butyric acid in presence of thionyl chloride has been studied. The reaction can be described as an organo-inorganic reaction giving 20% and 30% ester (0.2 mol acid : 0.2 mole and 0.4 mole thionyl chloride), at zero hr and at ambient temperature. The reaction has been so described as even though organic reactions are slow (covalent bonding), formation of ester is instantaneous as inorganic reaction e.g. precipitation of silver chloride from silver nitrate solution and chloride ions (electrolytes).