Question

Acetic anhydride reacts with diethyl ether in the presence
of anhydrous AlCl₃ to give :
(a) CH₃CH₂COOH (b) CH₃CH₂COOC₂H₅
(c) CH₃COOCH₃ (d) CH₃COOC₂H₅

Answer 1

Acetic anhydride reacts with diethyl ether in the presence

of anhydrous AlCl₃ to give :

• (CH₃CO)₂O + (C₂H₅)₂O ==> 2CH₃COOC₂H₅

• Here, anhydrous AlCl₃ will act as lewis acid.

• It will break C₂H₅-|-O-C₂H₅ bond into C₂H₅ and -OC₂H₅

• And it will break CH₃O-|-O-OCH₃ bond into CH₃COO- and -OCCH₃

• All four reactants will rearrange themselves and form 2 moles of Ethyl acetate.