[zmasterflex]

We just started organic chemistry but the lab is a little more complicated then the material we already learned. We have distilled cloves and have eugenol and acetyleugenol in a beaker with water and dichloromethane. We added NaOH base and then acidified it with HCl. We then separated it with dichloromethane washings. I know that the difference between eugenol and acetyleugenol is that eugenol has an OH group where acetyleugenol has an OC(=O)CH3 or a difference between an H and C(=OCH3). We havent learned any organic reactions yet, can someone please tell me how NaOH changes one of these and how HCl balances out the rememnant? I'm guessing that the OH base is going to grab off either the H or the C(=O)CH3 and the HCl is going to take the Na out of the solution. thanks in advance

[Dan]

The reaction is ester hydrolysis under basic conditions (a.k.a. saponification).

See for example: http://www.chem.ucalgary.ca/courses/351/Carey5th/Ch20/ch20-3-3-1.html