During the Schotten-Baumann reaction, exactly of phenol undergoes quantitative acetylation by reacti — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question
Question
During the Schotten-Baumann reaction, exactly $1 \text{ mole}$ of phenol undergoes quantitative acetylation by reacting with $1 \text{ mole}$ of acetyl chloride ($CH_3COCl$) in the presence of aqueous $NaOH$. How many moles of phenyl acetate are isolated as the major organic product?
💡 Solution & Explanation
The Schotten-Baumann reaction is a straightforward nucleophilic acyl substitution. One equivalent of the phenoxide nucleophile attacks one equivalent of the acyl chloride electrophile, releasing one equivalent of the chloride leaving group (which forms $NaCl$ with the base). This $1:1$ stoichiometry yields exactly $1 \text{ mole}$ of the ester, phenyl acetate.