Question

What is an alkyl benzoate compound?

Answer 1

An ester of a saturated alcohol and benzoic acid, `C_6H_5C(=O)OH`

Explanation:

For example methyl benzoate forms from the esterification of methanol and benzoic acid; ethyl benzoate from ethanol and benzoic acid. The generic alkyl benzoate is `RO(O=)C-C_6H_5`, where the `R` residue is alkyl.

`ROH + HO(O=)C-C_6H_5 rarr OH_2 + RO(O=)C-C_6H_5`

Esterification is a condensation reaction that proceeds with the elimination of water.