Question

What is the action of the following reagents on ethanoic acid ?
(a) `LiAlH_(4)//H_(3)O^(+)`
(b) `PCl_(3)`, heat
(c ) `P_(2)O_(5)`, heat

Answer 1

(a) `underset("Ethanoic acid")(CH_(3)-COOH) overset(LiAlH_(4)//H_(3)O^(+))rarr underset("Ethyl alcohol")(CH_(3)-CH_(2)-OH)`
(b) `underset("Ethanoic acid")(3CH_(3)COOH)+PCl_(3)overset(Delta)rarr underset("Acetyl chloride")(3CH_(3)COCl)+H_(3)PO_(3)`
(c )