The anhydrides They are chemical compounds that originate from the union of two molecules through the release of water. Thus, it could be seen as a dehydration of the initial substances; although it is not exactly true.
In organic and inorganic chemistry mention is made of them, and in both branches their understanding differs to an appreciable degree. For example, in inorganic chemistry, basic and acid oxides are considered as the anhydrides of their hydroxides and acids respectively, since the former react with water to form the latter..
Here, confusion can arise between the terms 'anhydrous' and 'anhydride'. Generally, anhydrous refers to a compound to which it has been dehydrated without changes in its chemical nature (there is no reaction); while with an anhydride, there is a chemical change, reflected in the molecular structure.
If the hydroxides and acids are compared with their corresponding oxides (or anhydrides), it will be seen that there was a reaction. On the other hand, some oxides or salts can be hydrated, lose water, and remain the same compounds; but, without water, that is, anhydrous.
In organic chemistry, on the other hand, what is meant by anhydride is the initial definition. For example, one of the best known anhydrides are those derived from carboxylic acids (top image). These consist of the union of two acyl groups (-RCO) through an oxygen atom.
In its general structure it is indicated R1 for an acyl group, and Rtwo for the second acyl group. Because R1 and Rtwo they are different, they come from different carboxylic acids and it is then an asymmetric acid anhydride. When both substituents R (whether or not they are aromatic) are the same, in that case we speak of a symmetric acid anhydride.
When two carboxylic acids bind to form the anhydride, water may or may not form, as well as other compounds. Everything will depend on the structure of these acids.
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The properties of anhydrides will depend on which ones you are referring to. Almost all of them have in common that they react with water. However, for the so-called basic anhydrides in inorganic, actually several of them are even insoluble in water (MgO), so this statement will focus for the anhydrides of carboxylic acids.
Melting and boiling points fall on the molecular structure and intermolecular interactions for the (RCO)twoOr, this being the general chemical formula of these organic compounds.
If the molecular mass of (RCO)twoOr it is low, probably a colorless liquid at room temperature and pressure. For example, acetic anhydride (or ethanoic anhydride), (CH3CO)twoOr, it is a liquid and the one of greatest industrial importance, its production being very vast..
The reaction between acetic anhydride and water is represented by the following chemical equation:
(CH3CO)twoO + HtwoO => 2CH3COOH
Note that when the water molecule is added, two molecules of acetic acid are released. The reverse reaction, however, cannot occur for acetic acid:
2CH3COOH => (CH3CO)twoO + HtwoO (Does not occur)
It is necessary to resort to another synthetic route. Dicarboxylic acids, on the other hand, can do so by heating; but it will be explained in the next section.
One of the simplest reactions of anhydrides is their hydrolysis, which has just been shown for acetic anhydride. In addition to this example, there is that of sulfuric acid anhydride:
HtwoStwoOR7 + HtwoOR <=> 2HtwoSW4
Here you have an inorganic acid anhydride. Note that for the HtwoStwoOR7 (also called disulfuric acid), the reaction is reversible, so heating HtwoSW4 concentrate gives rise to the formation of its anhydride. If, on the other hand, it is a dilute solution of HtwoSW4, SO is released3, sulfuric anhydride.
Acid anhydrides react with alcohols, with pyridine in between, to give an ester and a carboxylic acid. For example, consider the reaction between acetic anhydride and ethanol:
(CH3CO)twoO + CH3CHtwoOH => CH3COtwoCHtwoCH3 + CH3COOH
Thus forming the ester ethyl ethanoate, CH3COtwoCHtwoCH3, and ethanoic acid (acetic acid).
Practically, what happens is the substitution of the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group, by an acyl group:
R1-OH => R1-OCORtwo
In the case of (CH3CO)twoOr, its acyl group is -COCH3. Therefore, the OH group is said to be undergoing acylation. However, acylation and esterification are not interchangeable concepts; acylation can occur directly on an aromatic ring, known as the Friedel-Crafts acylation.
Thus, alcohols in the presence of acid anhydrides are esterified by acylation.
On the other hand, only one of the two acyl groups reacts with the alcohol, the other stays with the hydrogen, forming a carboxylic acid; that for the case of (CH3CO)twoOr, is ethanoic acid.
Acid anhydrides react with ammonia or amines (primary and secondary) to give rise to amides. The reaction is very similar to the esterification just described, but the ROH is replaced by an amine; for example, a secondary amine, RtwoNH.
Again, the reaction between (CH3CO)twoO and diethylamine, EttwoNH:
(CH3CO)twoO + 2EttwoNH => CH3CONEttwo + CH3COO- +NHtwoEttwo
And diethylacetamide, CH3CONEttwo, and a carboxylated salt of ammonium, CH3COO- +NHtwoEttwo.
Although the equation may seem a bit difficult to understand, just look at how the -COCH group3 substitute the H of an EttwoNH to form the amide:
EttwoNH => EttwoNCOCH3
Rather than amidation, the reaction is still acylation. Everything is summed up in that word; this time, the amine undergoes acylation and not the alcohol.
Inorganic anhydrides are formed by reacting the element with oxygen. Thus, if the element is metallic, a metallic oxide or basic anhydride is formed; and if it is non-metallic, a non-metallic oxide or acid anhydride is formed.
For organic anhydrides, the reaction is different. Two carboxylic acids cannot join directly to release water and form acid anhydride; the participation of a compound that has not been mentioned yet is necessary: acyl chloride, RCOCl.
The carboxylic acid reacts with the acyl chloride, producing the respective anhydride and hydrogen chloride:
R1COCl + RtwoCOOH => (R1CO) OR (CORtwo) + HCl
CH3COCl + CH3COOH => (CH3CO)twoO + HCl
A CH3 comes from the acetyl group, CH3CO-, and the other is already present in acetic acid. The choice of a specific acyl chloride, as well as the carboxylic acid, can lead to the synthesis of a symmetric or asymmetric acid anhydride.
Unlike the other carboxylic acids that require an acyl chloride, dicarboxylic acids can condense into their corresponding anhydride. For this, it is necessary to heat them to promote the release of HtwoO. For example, the formation of phthalic anhydride from phthalic acid is shown.
Note how the pentagonal ring is completed, and the oxygen that joins both C = O groups is part of it; this is a cyclic anhydride. Likewise, it can be appreciated that phthalic anhydride is a symmetric anhydride, since both R1 as Rtwo are identical: an aromatic ring.
Not all dicarboxylic acids are capable of forming their anhydride, since when their COOH groups are widely separated, they are forced to complete larger and larger rings. The largest ring that can be formed is a hexagonal one, larger than that the reaction does not take place.
How are anhydrides named? Leaving aside the inorganic ones, pertinent to oxide issues, the names of the organic anhydrides explained so far depend on the identity of R1 and Rtwo; that is, of its acyl groups.
If the two R's are the same, simply replace the word 'acid' with 'anhydride' in the respective name of the carboxylic acid. And if, on the contrary, the two Rs are different, they are named in alphabetical order. Therefore, to know what to call it, you must first see if it is a symmetric or asymmetric acid anhydride.
The CH3CO)twoO is symmetric, since R1= Rtwo = CH3. It is derived from acetic or ethanoic acid, so its name is, following the previous explanation: acetic or ethanoic anhydride. The same happens with the phthalic anhydride just mentioned.
Suppose we have the following anhydride:
CH3CO (O) COCHtwoCHtwoCHtwoCHtwoCHtwoCH3
The acetyl group on the left comes from acetic acid, and the one on the right comes from heptanoic acid. To name this anhydride you must name its R groups in alphabetical order. So, its name is: heptanoic acetic anhydride.
Inorganic anhydrides have endless applications, from the synthesis and formulation of materials, ceramics, catalysts, cements, electrodes, fertilizers, etc., to as a coating of the earth's crust with its thousands of iron and aluminum minerals, and dioxide of carbon exhaled by living organisms.
They represent the starting source, the point where many compounds used in inorganic syntheses are derived. One of the most important anhydrides is carbon dioxide, COtwo. It is, along with water, essential for photosynthesis. And at the industrial level, the SO3 It is essential since from it the defendant sulfuric acid is obtained.
Perhaps, the anhydride with the most applications and for having (while there is life) is one from phosphoric acid: adenosine triphosphate, better known as ATP, present in DNA and the "energy currency" of metabolism..
Acid anhydrides react by acylation, either to an alcohol, forming an ester, an amine, giving rise to an amide, or an aromatic ring.
There are millions of each of these compounds, and hundreds of thousands of carboxylic acid options to make an anhydride; therefore, the synthetic possibilities grow dramatically.
Thus, one of the main applications is to incorporate an acyl group into a compound, substituting one of the atoms or groups of its structure..
Each separate anhydride has its own applications, but in general terms they all react in a similar way. For this reason, these types of compounds are used to modify polymeric structures, creating new polymers; i.e. copolymers, resins, coatings, etc..
For example, acetic anhydride is used to acetylate all the OH groups in cellulose (lower image). With this, each H of the OH is replaced by an acetyl group, COCH3.
In this way the cellulose acetate polymer is obtained. The same reaction can be outlined with other polymeric structures with NH groupstwo, also susceptible to acylation.
These acylation reactions are also useful for the synthesis of drugs, such as aspirin (acid acetylsalicylic).
Some other examples of organic anhydrides are shown to finish. Although no mention will be made of them, oxygen atoms can be substituted for sulfur, giving sulfur or even phosphorous anhydrides..
-C6H5CO (O) COC6H5: benzoic anhydride. Group C6H5 represents a benzene ring. Its hydrolysis produces two benzoic acids.
-HCO (O) COH: formic anhydride. Its hydrolysis produces two formic acids.
- C6H5CO (O) COCHtwoCH3: benzoic propanoic anhydride. Its hydrolysis produces benzoic and propanoic acids.
-C6HelevenCO (O) COC6Heleven: cyclohexanecarboxylic anhydride. Unlike aromatic rings, these are saturated, without double bonds.
-CH3CHtwoCHtwoCO (O) COCHtwoCH3: propanoic butanoic anhydride.
Here you have another cyclic, derived from succinic acid, a dicarboxylic acid. Note how the three oxygen atoms reveal the chemical nature of this type of compound.
Maleic anhydride is very similar to succinic anhydride, with the difference that there is a double bond between the carbons that form the base of the pentagon..
And finally, glutaric acid anhydride is shown. This structurally distinguishes itself from all the others by consisting of a hexagonal ring. Again, the three oxygen atoms stand out in the structure.
Other anhydrides, more complex, can always be evidenced by the three oxygen atoms very close to each other.
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