R-COOR’ + H2O + H+ R-COOH + R’OH + H+
ester
acid
alcohol
The Mechanism of Acid-catalyzed
Organic Ester Hydrolysis
The reaction rate is slow at neutral pH (pH 7.0), but
increases significantly at acidic pH (pH 2).
H+ ion catalyzes the reaction at low pH; what is the
molecular basis for the catalysis by H+?
Homogeneous Catalysis
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