Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution
Nucleophilic acyl substitution is a fundamental reaction in organic chemistry where a nucleophile attacks the carbonyl carbon of an acyl compound, leading to the replacement of a leaving group. In this case, the ester is converted to an amide by the nucleophilic attack of an amine on the carbonyl carbon, resulting in the formation of a new C-N bond and the release of the ethoxy group as a leaving group.
Recommended video:
Nucleophiles and Electrophiles can react in Substitution Reactions.
Reactivity of Esters
Esters are relatively reactive compounds due to the presence of the carbonyl group, which is electrophilic and susceptible to nucleophilic attack. The leaving group in esters, such as an alkoxy group, can be displaced by stronger nucleophiles, making them suitable substrates for nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions. Understanding the reactivity of esters is crucial for selecting appropriate reagents for synthesis.
Recommended video:
Choice of Nucleophile
The choice of nucleophile is critical in nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions. In this case, an amine (NHPh) is chosen to convert the ester to an amide. Amines are good nucleophiles due to the presence of a lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom, which allows them to effectively attack the electrophilic carbonyl carbon, facilitating the desired transformation.
Recommended video: