Nucleophilic acyl substitution
Nucleophilic acyl substitution
Formula
RCOX + Nu⁻ → RCONu + X⁻
Real World
Aspirin is manufactured by Bayer via nucleophilic acyl substitution — salicylic acid's hydroxyl group attacks acetic anhydride's carbonyl, forming the ester linkage in acetylsalicylic acid.
Exam Focus
Always draw the tetrahedral intermediate in mechanism questions — skipping it loses the 'formation of intermediate' mark.
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