2. ACETIC ANHYDRIDE
[ Preparation and uses]
• Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, is the chemical
compound with the formula (CH3CO)2O. Commonly
abbreviated Ac2O,
• it is the simplest isolable anhydride of a carboxylic acid
and is widely used as a reagent in organic synthesis.
• It is a colorless liquid that smells strongly of acetic acid,
which is formed by its reaction with moisture in the air
4. Preparations
Acetic anhydride was first synthesized in 1852 by the French
chemist Charles Frédéric Gerhardt (1816-1856) by heating
potassium acetate with benzoyl chloride.
12. • Preparations of Cellulose acetate fibers
and plastic vinyl acetate.
As Dehydrating and acetylating agent
in production of pharmaceuticals, dyes,
perfumes, explosives. ...
Esterifying agent for food starch (5%
max).
• Acetic anhydride is an
esterification agent for use in
prepn. of modified food starch
and for acetylation of
monoglycerides.
• Acetic anhydride is a versatile
reagent for acetylations, the
introduction of acetyl groups to
organic substrates.