Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Nitrophenol and ethanoic acid

Andy B - 18-10-2004 at 07:00

Will 4-nitrophenol and ethanoic acid produce nitrophenyl acetyl in a noticable way at 25*C?

And know a way of stopping it from happening outright?

JohnWW - 18-10-2004 at 12:44

Nitrated phenols are themselves relatively strongly acid, so you would find it difficult to make it form an ester with acetic acid. It would have to be done in the presence of a reagent which is particularly efficient at removing a water molecule between the p-nitrophenol and acetic acid, without otherwise reacting with them. It would be rather easily hydrolysed.
P-nitrophenyl acetate exists, however (1,960 results for it on Google, many of which refer to its hydrolysis by various reagents and biochemical substances). None of these results seem to describe its preparation.