(CH3CO)2O[1]
Acetic anhydride is the condensate of two acetic acids. It is mostly used for esterification. The most common use is the production of aspirine.
Reactions
The reaction of acetic anhydride with ethanol
H3C-CO-O-CO-CH3 + HO-CH2-CH3 ----> H3C-COO-CH2-CH3 + H3C-COOH
Synthesis
The synthesis of acetic anhydride is the following very hazardous reaction:
It is the reaction of ethanoyl chloride with sodium acetate
H3C-COCl + H3C-COO- Na+ ------> Na+Cl- + H3C-CO-O-CO-CH3
Hence you obtain also sodium chloride, you can immagine the possible hazard of this reaction. It is a reaction of the Hermann Staudinger-type.
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