Question

Describe the following:

Acetylation

Answer 1

The substitution of active hydrogen of alcohols, phenols or amines with an acyl (–RCO) group, resulting in the formation of the corresponding ester or amides, is called acetylation. This substitution is carried out using acid chloride or acid anhydride in the presence of a base such as pyridine or dimethylaniline.

\[\ce{\underset{Acetyl Chloride}{CH3COCl} + \underset{Ethanol}{C2H5OH} ->[pyridine] \underset{Ethyl acetate}{CH3COOC2H5} + HCl}\]

\[\ce{\underset{Acetyl Chloride}{(CH3CO)2O} + \underset{Ethyl amine}{C2H5NH2} -> \underset{N-Ethylacetamide}{CH3CONHC2H5} + HCl}\]