摘要：Fisher esterification is a topic covered in most second semester undergraduate organic chemistry courses. This article outlines the synthesis of several esters produced via Fisher esterification of trans-cinnamic acid and various alcohols. The esters are purified using column chromatography, a separation technique typically introduced in the first semester. The products are characterized using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Based on the identification of the esters produced, students determine the unknown starting alcohol and write the correct mechanism of the reaction. This laboratory project was successfully carried out with second semester organic chemistry laboratory students.
关键词：Fisher esterification; Column chromatography; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy
