[lukas.stib]

Hello chemists,

how does the synthesis of esters of acetic acid from acetic anhydride and alcohols proceed? I should also perform reflux, and then distill the ester, and I should use excess alcohol or acetic anhydride?

Thank you, Lukáš S.

[Meter]

Look up how acid anhydrides react as electrophiles.

[Babcock_Hall]

You might want to pick up a copy of Tietze and Eicher's book, "Reactions and Syntheses in the Organic Laboratory."

[rolnor]

I suggest mix them 1:1 and reflux over night. This should give you a pure product but ditillation can be good if not. This reaction can be exothermic so you should use a large flask and fill it to just 1/5 or so, otherwise the mixture could spurt out from the flask.