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

3215 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain why the 2nd Electron aiffinity of Chlorine is Endothermic whilst the first electron affinity is exothermic


24.5g of CH3CH2CH2Br was reacted with ammonia to form CH3CH2CH2NH2 at a 75.0% yield, calculate the mass of the product formed.


Why is a nucleophilic substitution reaction between ammonia and benzene unlikely?


A chemist mixes together 0.450 mol N2 with 0.450 mol H2 in a sealed container. The mixture is heated and allowed to reach equilibrium. At equilibrium, the mixture contains 0.400 mol N2 and the total pressure is 500 kPa. Calculate Kp.


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