How are anhydrides formed?
1 Answer
May 16, 2016
By condensation of two carboxylic acids:
Explanation:
As represented above, 2 carboxylic acids can condense, with the elimination of water. As is typical of organic reactions, here, the nucleophile, the hydroxy group, has attacked the electrophile, the carbonyl carbon on the other reactant, with the elimination of water. A dehydrating agent is commonly used, to drive the equilibrium to the right.
