To map the cleavage mechanism of Fischer esterification, Acetic acid is reacted with O-18 labeled Et — Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Chemistry Question
Question
To map the cleavage mechanism of Fischer esterification, Acetic acid is reacted with O-18 labeled Ethanol ($CH_3CH_2-^{18}OH$). Where does the heavy oxygen isotope strictly end up?
Answer: C
💡 Solution & Explanation
The $O^{18}$ isotope remains safely inside the ester ($CH_3CO-^{18}OCH_2CH_3$), definitively proving that the forward reaction cleaves the acyl $C-OH$ bond of the acid and the $O-H$ bond of the alcohol.
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