D37.3 Condensation Reactions

In a condensation reaction, two molecules join to form a larger molecule and a small molecule side product such as H₂O or HCl. We have previously discussed condensation polymers, which are made via condensation reactions.

For example, one way to produce the ester ethyl acetate is via a condensation reaction between acetic acid and ethanol in the presence of a strong acid:

This reaction involves several sequential reaction steps before the final ester product is formed, and therefore is more complex than a simple Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reaction. However, each of these reaction steps is either a Brønsted-Lowry type acid-base reaction or a Lewis type acid-base reaction. So we can apply what we have learned thus far to explore this more complex reaction.

Of the three starting species in this reaction, sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is a strong acid, acetic acid is a weak acid, and ethanol is not particularly acidic (it is a weaker acid than H₂O). When these three compounds are mixed in solution, the initial reactions are Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reactions driven by sulfuric acid:

The products formed from these two reactions are conjugate acid of ethanol and acetic acid. Both product acids are strong acids, but protonated ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH₂⁺) is weaker compared to H₂SO₄ while protonated acetic acid (CH₃COOH₂⁺) is stronger compared to H₂SO₄. Therefore, reaction 1a is product-favored while reaction 1b is reactant favored. However, it is protonated acetic acid that is the crucial species for the next step in the condensation reaction, where this very strong acid acts as a Lewis acid, and an ethanol molecule acts as the Lewis base:

Reaction 3 is again a Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reaction. The main product here is the molecule with a tetrahedral carbon bonded to a carbon and three different oxygen atoms. This molecule will transform into the final ester product.

The next two reaction steps will result in one of the -OH groups leaving the molecule. This occurs by protonation of the -OH group via a Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reaction (reaction 4), followed by the protonated -OH₂⁺ group leaving the molecule as a H₂O (reaction 5):

Reaction 5 is the reverse reaction of a Lewis type acid-base reaction. It results in the formation of a water molecule and a protonated ester.

The last step in the condensation reaction is a final Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reaction which yields the neutral ethyl acetate product:

There are several possibilities for reaction 6. For example, an ethanol molecule can be the base instead of HSO₄^–. (In fact, ethanol is a stronger base compared to HSO₄^–.) The specific reaction shown above illustrates the regeneration of H₂SO₄, which highlights its role as a catalyst.

Each reaction step in this condensation reaction is an acid-base reaction, and each is reversible. This makes the entire condensation reaction reversible. The reverse reaction here is called a hydrolysis reaction (hydrolysis comes from hydro meaning “water” and lysis meaning “breaking apart”). In acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of an ester, a carboxylic acid and an alcohol is formed.

For the condensation reaction we just talked about:

the equilibrium constant for the entire reaction is 3.4, indicating that it is an overall product-favored reaction.

Condensation reactions are a big family of reactions; some occur in acidic solutions and some in basic solutions. The specific reaction steps vary depending on the reactant species and the reaction environment.

Other compounds that can be made via condensation reactions include ethers, which can be obtained from condensation reactions involving two alcohol molecules. If the two alcohol molecules are the same, a symmetric ether forms. For example, when ethanol is heated in the presence of sulfuric acid, diethyl ether and water are formed:

If the condensation reaction involves two different alcohols, an asymmetric ether can form. For example:

Amides can also be produced from carboxylic acids and primary or secondary amines via condensation reactions:

It is through this reaction that amino acids link together in a polymer to form proteins.