Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Overview

Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Overview

The Fischer esterification reaction was developed by the German chemist Emil Fischer in 1895. It is a condensation reaction between carboxylic acids and alcohols in an acidic medium to give esters and water.

Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis

Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis of esters under acidic conditions proceeds through a nucleophilic acyl substitution. In the presence of excess water, the reaction proceeds in a reversible manner, forming carboxylic acids and alcohols.
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...

Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Mechanism

Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Mechanism

Carboxylic acids react with alcohols to yield esters via an acid-catalyzed condensation reaction called Fischer esterification. This is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction that proceeds via a tetrahedral intermediate, where a water molecule is eliminated as the leaving group.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Chemoselective Alkylating Esterification of Thiophosphinic Acids: An Experimental and Theoretical Study.

ChemPlusChem·2026

Same author

The Synthesis of α-Hydroxy-Alkylphosphonate Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic Activity.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Cytotoxic Agents by the Phosphinoylation and Thiophosphinoylation of 3‑Hydroxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophosphinine 1‑Oxides as β‑Hydroxyphosphonates and -Phosphine Oxides.

ACS omega·2026

Same author

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of a New Family of α-Hydroxyphosphonates with the Benzothiophene Scaffold.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Microwave-Assisted P-C Coupling of the Less Reactive Chlorobenzene and >P(O)H Reagents in the Absence of the Usual Mono- and Bidental P-Ligands.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

New Cytotoxic Derivatives by the Phosphorylation and Phosphinoylation of Diethyl α-Amino-α-Aryl-Methylphosphonates.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025

Same journal

NMR Spectroscopy: Molecular Insights into Cell Wall Collapse and Oxidative Stress of <i>Escherichia coli</i> Induced by Imidazole-Activated Eutectic Solvents.

ACS omega·2026

Same journal

Enhanced Arsenite Remediation in Synthetic FeS<sub>2</sub>/Fe(II)-Containing Arsenic Wastewater via Epigallocatechin Gallate-Initiated Persulfate Activation.

ACS omega·2026

Same journal

Defect and Particle-Size Engineering as Mechanistic Drivers for Dye Uptake in a Zirconium Metal-Organic Framework.

ACS omega·2026

Same journal

Biogeochemical Assessment of Short-Term Hydrogen Storage in Methane Reservoirs with Field Sample Characterization and Reactor Experiments.

ACS omega·2026

Same journal

Combined Effects of Halloysite Nanotubes, Nucleating Agent, and Thermal Annealing on the Printability and Mechanical Performances of 3D-Printable Polypropylene Random Copolymer-Based Composites.

ACS omega·2026

Same journal

Effect of MoS<sub>2</sub> Interfacial Engineering across MAPbI<sub>3</sub>, FAPbI<sub>3</sub>, and CsPbI<sub>3</sub> Perovskite Solar Cells.

ACS omega·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry

Published on: August 1, 2017

Practical Microwave-Assisted Recirculated Flow Esterification at Atmospheric Pressure.

József Schindler¹, Rebeka Harján¹, György Keglevich¹

¹Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary.

|June 22, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study optimized microwave (MW) esterification by removing the back pressure regulator (BPR), enhancing safety at atmospheric pressure. Circulation maintained high productivity without compromising safety, offering a scalable solution.

More Related Videos

Laboratory Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from a Rapeseed Oil through Catalytic Cracking Conversion

Laboratory Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from a Rapeseed Oil through Catalytic Cracking Conversion

Published on: September 2, 2016

Combustion Chemistry of Fuels: Quantitative Speciation Data Obtained from an Atmospheric High-temperature Flow Reactor with Coupled Molecular-beam Mass Spectrometer

Combustion Chemistry of Fuels: Quantitative Speciation Data Obtained from an Atmospheric High-temperature Flow Reactor with Coupled Molecular-beam Mass Spectrometer

Published on: February 19, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry

Published on: August 1, 2017

Laboratory Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from a Rapeseed Oil through Catalytic Cracking Conversion

Laboratory Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from a Rapeseed Oil through Catalytic Cracking Conversion

Published on: September 2, 2016

Combustion Chemistry of Fuels: Quantitative Speciation Data Obtained from an Atmospheric High-temperature Flow Reactor with Coupled Molecular-beam Mass Spectrometer

Combustion Chemistry of Fuels: Quantitative Speciation Data Obtained from an Atmospheric High-temperature Flow Reactor with Coupled Molecular-beam Mass Spectrometer

Published on: February 19, 2018

Area of Science:

Chemical Engineering
Process Chemistry

Background:

Previous work established circulating flow microwave (MW) systems for esterification.
Circulation provided chemical and energy insights, improving reaction rates and productivity.
High flow rates in circulation increased system load and safety risks due to back pressure regulator (BPR) use.

Purpose of the Study:

To eliminate the BPR unit in circulating flow MW esterification.
To assess if circulation benefits can compensate for atmospheric pressure limitations.
To reduce safety risks associated with high-pressure MW systems.

Main Methods:

Modified a circulating flow MW system to operate at atmospheric pressure.
Removed the back pressure regulator (BPR) unit.
Evaluated reaction performance and safety under new conditions.

Main Results:

Elimination of the BPR unit successfully restricted the system to atmospheric pressure.
Circulation capabilities compensated for the loss of BPR control.
Safety risks were reduced by operating at lower pressures.

Conclusions:

Circulating flow MW esterification can be safely performed at atmospheric pressure without a BPR.
The system demonstrates potential for scalable and safer chemical synthesis.
This approach balances productivity with enhanced operational safety.