This experiment aimed to synthesize isoamyl acetate and understand preparing ester’s mechanism. The test compounds underwent reflux, distillation, extraction and vacuum filtration. Through an acid, acetic acid could serve as a substrate. This could easily be attacked by isoamyl alcohol, thus producing isoamyl acetate. | Colleen Samantha Dioquinoa, Christopher Jay Robidillob Abstract Esters are prepared in many ways and one of which is through fischer esterification. This reaction involves carboxylic under acidic condition with alcohol. This experiment aimed to synthesize isoamyl acetate and understand preparing ester’s mechanism. The test compounds underwent reflux, distillation, extraction and vacuum filtration. Through an acid, acetic acid could serve as a substrate. This could easily be attacked by isoamyl alcohol, thus producing isoamyl acetate. Work up was done through the conjugate base. Assumed by-products of this reaction was water and sulfuric acid which was removed after simple distillation. This experiment had produced a considerable yield of isoamyl acetate. Keywords: ester, fischer esterification, isoamyl acetate, mechanism, substrate another acid and an alcohol, this would undergo fischer esterification process. Esters are prepared through SN2 reaction, acid chloride or fischer esterification. Carboxylic acids and its derivatives are usually the source of ester. When these are treated with strong base and alkyl halide, these will produce esters. Acid chlorides reacted with alcohol would readily yield ester since chlorines are good leaving group. Moreover, carboxylic acid, if treated with This experiment aims to: Synthesize isoamyl acetate Understand the mechanism of preparing ester The test compounds used and produced in this experiment are in Table 1. a. CHM146L student, School of CHE-CHM-BE-MSE, Mapua Institute of Technology b. CHM146L professor, School of CHE-CHM-BE-MSE, Mapua Institute of Technology Table 1-test compounds Test Compounds Name Isoamyl alcohol Structure Sodium Bicarbonate Glacial acetic acid NaHCO3 NaCl Sulfuric acid Magnesium sulfate Isoamyl acetate The reagents were prepared by the laboratory assistant before the experiment was performed. Figure 2 The hydroxyl group is converted into water to a better leaving group. The oxygen at another .
