What is dehydration synthesis reaction in organic chemistry?
The dehydration synthesis reaction is an important reaction in organic chemistry. This is because compounds like alkene, aldehyde, cyanide, ether, ester etc. are synthesized by this reaction.
The dehydration synthesis reaction is the reverse of the hydration reaction. In the process of dehydration synthesis, water molecules are removed from the reactant and produce products.
The chemical process by which water molecules are removed from one or more reactive molecules or ions to form a new substance is called a dehydration synthesis reaction.
Dehydration synthesis can be of two types, intra- molecular dehydration synthesis and intermolecular dehydration synthesis.
Common dehydrating agents used in organic synthesis are concentrated sulfuric acid and alumina. Also P2O5, iodine etc. can be used as dehydrating agents.
What is an example of dehydration synthesis reaction?
The best example of a dehydration synthesis reaction is the Fisher esterification reaction.
In this case esters are produced by the reaction of alcohol and carboxylic acids in the presence of dehydrating agents.
Using dehydration synthesis reaction two mono saccharides such as glucose and fructose are combined together to form disaccharide (saccharose).
There are many examples of dehydration synthesis in organic synthesis, for example dehydration of alcohol or sugars.
Also compounds like carboxylic acid, amide, alcohol, aldol and aldoxim etc. take part in the dehydration synthesis reaction.
Alcohol usually undergoes both intra molecular and intermolecular dehydration synthesis.
Alkenes are formed in the intra molecular dehydration of alcohol and ether in the intermolecular dehydration.
What is dehydration synthesis used for?
Ether and alkene are synthesized from alcohol through dehydration synthesis reaction. It commonly occurs in crating polymers, one example is the synthesis of glycogen from glucose.
In addition, compounds like carboxylic acid and ester from alcohol, cyanide from amide, acid anhydride from carboxylic acid and aldehyde also from carboxylic acid are synthesized through dehydration synthesis reaction.
