Qualitative organic analysis esters

Suitable reagents for derivatizing specific functional groups are summarized in Table 8.21. Many of the reactions and reagents are the familiar ones used in qualitative analysis for the characterization of organic compounds by physical means. Alcohols are converted to esters by reaction with an acid chloride in the presence of a base catalyst (e.g., pyridine, tertiary amine, etc). If the alcohol is to be recovered after the separation, then a derivative which is fairly easy to hydrolyze, such as p-nltrophenylcarbonate, is convenient. If the sample contains labile groups, phenylurethane derivatives can be prepared under very mild reaction conditions. Alcohols in aqueous solution can be derivatized with 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride. 

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