Dehydration reaction

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This article is about chemical reactions resulting in the loss of water from a molecule. For the removal of water from solvents and reagents, see Desiccation.

In chemistry, a dehydration reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the loss of water from the reacting molecule or ion. Dehydration reactions are common processes, the reverse of a hydration reaction.

Dehydration reactions in organic chemistry

Esterification

The classic example of a dehydration reaction is the

Fischer esterification
, which involves treating a carboxylic acid with an alcohol to give an ester

RCO2H + R′OH ⇌ RCO2R′ + H2O

Often such reactions require the presence of a dehydrating agent, i.e. a substance that reacts with water.

Etherification

Two

saccharose) using dehydration synthesis. The new molecule, consisting of two monosaccharides, is called a disaccharide
.

Nitrile formation

Nitriles are often prepared by dehydration of primary amides.

RC(O)NH2 → RCN + H2O

Ketene formation

Ketene is produced by heating acetic acid and trapping the product:[1]

CH3CO2H → CH2=C=O + H2O

Alkene formation

Alkenes can be made from alcohols by dehydration. This conversion, among others, is used in converting biomass to liquid fuels.[2] The conversion of ethanol to ethylene is a fundamental example:[3][4]

   CH3CH2OH → H2C=CH2 + H2O

The reaction is accelerated by

acid catalysts such as sulfuric acid and certain zeolites
. These reactions often proceed via carbocation]]ic intermediates as shown for the dehydration of cyclohexanol.[5]

Some alcohols are prone to dehydration. 3-Hydroxylcarbonyls, called aldols, release water upon standing at room temperature:

RC(O)CH2CH(OH)R' → RC(O)CH=CHR' + H2O

The reaction is induced by dehydrating reagents. For example, 2-methyl-cyclohexan-1-ol dehydrates to 1-methylcyclohexene in the presence of Martin's sulfurane, which reacts irreversibly with water.[6][7]

Double dehydration is illustrated by the conversion of glycerol to acrolein:[8][9]

Elimination reaction of glycerol to acrolein

Dehydration reactions in inorganic chemistry

The formation of the pyrophosphate bond is an important dehydration relevant to bioenergetics.

Various construction materials are produced by dehydration.

Plaster of Paris is produced by dehydration of gypsum in a kiln:[10][11]

heat (released as steam).

The resulting dry powder is ready to be mixed with water to form a stiff but workable paste that hardens.

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-3527306732
    .
  2. PMID 24083630
    .
  3. ISBN 978-3527306732
    .
  4. ISSN 0888-5885
    .
  5. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.005.0033
    .
  6. doi:10.1021/ed900049b
    .
  7. ISBN 0471936235
    .
  8. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.006.0001
    .
  9. ISSN 1463-9262
    .
  10. doi:10.1002/14356007.a04_555
  11. ^ Staff. "CaSO4, ½ H2O". LaFargePrestia. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
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