Acyl Chlorides (OCR A Level Chemistry A): Revision Note

Exam code: H432

Stewart Hird

Last updated

Formation of Acyl Chlorides

  • Due to the increased reactivity of acyl chlorides compared to carboxylic acids, they are often used as starting compounds in organic reactions

  • Acyl chlorides are compounds that contain an -COCl functional group and can be prepared from the reaction of carboxylic acids with:

    • Liquid sulfur dichloride oxide (SOCl2)

  • Propanoyl chloride can this way be prepared from propanoic acid using the reaction above

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Uses of Acyl Chlorides

  • Acyl chlorides are reactive organic compounds that undergo many reactions such as addition-elimination reactions

  • In addition-elimination reactions, the addition of a small molecule across the C=O bond takes place followed by elimination of a small molecule

  • Examples of these addition-elimination reactions include:

    • Hydrolysis

    • Reaction with alcohols and phenols to form esters

    • Reaction with ammonia and amines to form amides

Hydrolysis

  • The hydrolysis of acyl chlorides results in the formation of a carboxylic acid and HCl molecule

  • This is an addition-elimination reaction

    • water molecule adds across the C=O bond

    • A hydrochloric acid (HCl) molecule is eliminated

  • An example is the hydrolysis of propanoyl chloride to form propanoic acid and HCl

    Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives - Overall Hydrolysis Acyl Chlorides, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

Acyl chlorides are hydrolysed to carboxylic acids

Formation of esters

  • Acyl chlorides can react with alcohols and phenols to form esters

    • The reaction with phenols requires heat and a base

  • Esters can also be formed from the reaction of carboxylic acids with phenol and alcohols however, this is a slower reaction as carboxylic acids are less reactive and the reaction does not go to completion (so less product is formed)

  • Acyl chlorides are therefore more useful in the synthesis of esters

  • The esterification of acyl chlorides is also an addition-elimination reaction

    • The alcohol or phenol adds across the C=O bond

    • A HCl molecule is eliminated

      Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives - Esterification of Acyl Chlorides, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

Acyl chlorides undergo esterification with alcohols and phenols to form esters

Formation of amides

  • Acyl chlorides can form amides from their condensation reaction with amines and ammonia

  • The nitrogen atom in ammonia and amines has a lone pair of electrons which can be used to attack the carbonyl carbon atom in the acyl chlorides

  • The product is a primary  amide (when reacted with ammonia) or secondary amide (when reacted with primary amines)

  • This is also an example of an addition-elimination reaction as

    • The amine or ammonia molecule adds across the C=O bond

    • A HCl molecule is eliminated

Formation of amide reaction

Acyl chlorides undergo condensation reactions with ammonia and amines to form amides

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Stewart Hird

Author: Stewart Hird

Expertise: Chemistry Content Creator

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.

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