Which reagents would produce an ester directly from an acid chloride in the scheme?

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Multiple Choice

Which reagents would produce an ester directly from an acid chloride in the scheme?

Acid chlorides react with alcohols via nucleophilic acyl substitution to form esters. The alcohol’s oxygen attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid chloride, the tetrahedral intermediate collapses, and the chloride leaves, giving an ester and HCl. This direct path requires a nucleophile like the alcohol; water would instead hydrolyze the acid chloride to the carboxylic acid, while amines (like NH3) would give amides. A base alone doesn’t provide an alcohol nucleophile, and while a base can help mop up the HCl formed, the essential reagent to form the ester directly is the alcohol.

Acid chlorides react with alcohols via nucleophilic acyl substitution to form esters. The alcohol’s oxygen attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid chloride, the tetrahedral intermediate collapses, and the chloride leaves, giving an ester and HCl. This direct path requires a nucleophile like the alcohol; water would instead hydrolyze the acid chloride to the carboxylic acid, while amines (like NH3) would give amides. A base alone doesn’t provide an alcohol nucleophile, and while a base can help mop up the HCl formed, the essential reagent to form the ester directly is the alcohol.

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