Esterification at Room Temperature:A Mixing Affair Only

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Abstract
Carboxylic acids in absolute alcohols, on treatment with thionyl chloride at room temperature give good yields of corresponding esters. Photochemistry1 of maleianilic acid and its derivatives has been of interest to us. It was thought that the yield of the photocyclised product is less because of probable decarboxylation which may be resulting during photolysis, and hence the need for esterification. Numerous new methods of esterification have been developed and reviewed by Haslam2, but we like to claim our method as the simplest and the easiest method to date. Another report by Huber and Brenner4,5 has used absolute methanol, thionyl chloride and HCl for preparing methyl esters of two amino acids (Methionine and Leucine) using a methodology which includes an unnecessary use of HCl.