Question

What conditions must be used to carry out the following reaction?

2CH3CH2CH2-OH-->CH3CH2-O-CH2CH3+H2O

Answer 1

The reaction 2CH3CH2CH2-OH → CH3CH2-O-CH2CH3 + H2O requires acid-catalyzed transesterification and water removal to carry out.

Step-by-step explanation:

To carry out the reaction 2CH3CH2CH2-OH → CH3CH2-O-CH2CH3 + H2O, the following conditions must be used:

1. Acid-catalyzed transesterification: This reaction requires an acid catalyst, such as concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), to convert the alcohol (CH3CH2CH2-OH) into the ester (CH3CH2-O-CH2CH3).
2. Water removal: To drive the reaction forward, excess water can be removed from the reaction mixture using techniques such as azeotropic distillation or molecular sieves.