Amides may or may not participate in hydrogen bonding depending on the number of alkyl groups
they have bonded, and therefore their boiling points may be lower or on the same level as the
boiling points of carboxylic acids.
Esters
Esters are the dehydration synthesis products of other carboxylic acid derivatives and alcohols.
They are named by placing the esterifying group (the substituent bonded to the oxygen) as a prefix;
the suffix –oate replaces –oic acid. Several examples are shown in Figure 9.3. As mentioned in the
last chapter, ethyl acetate, derived from the condensation of acetic acid and ethanol, is called ethyl
ethanoate according to IUPAC nomenclature.
Figure 9.3. Naming EstersKEY CONCEPT
Esters are formed by the condensation reaction of carboxylic acids or anhydrides with
alcohols.Under acidic conditions, mixtures of carboxylic acids and alcohols will condense into esters. This
reaction, called a Fischer esterification, is shown in Figure 9.4. Esters can also be obtained from the
reaction of anhydrides with alcohols.
Figure 9.4. Fischer Esterification