List of esters

In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an acid (organic or inorganic) in which the hydrogen atom (H) of at least one acidic hydroxyl group (−OH) of that acid is replaced by an organyl group (−R). Analogues derived from oxygen replaced by other chalcogens belong to the ester category as well (i.e. esters of acidic −SH, −SeH, −TeH, −PoH and −LvH groups). According to some authors, organyl derivatives of acidic hydrogen of other acids are esters as well (e.g. amides), but not according to the IUPAC.^[1]

Thumb — An ester of carboxylic acid. R stands for any group (organic or inorganic) and R′ stands for organyl group.

An example of an ester formation is the substitution reaction between a carboxylic acid (R−C(=O)−OH) and an alcohol (R'OH), forming an ester (R−C(=O)−O−R'), where R and R′ are organyl groups, or H in the case of esters of formic acid. Glycerides, which are fatty acid esters of glycerol, are important esters in biology, being one of the main classes of lipids, and making up the bulk of animal fats and vegetable oils. Esters of carboxylic acids with low molecular weight are commonly used as fragrances and found in essential oils and pheromones. Phosphoesters form the backbone of DNA molecules. Nitrate esters, such as nitroglycerin, are known for their explosive properties, while polyesters are important plastics, with monomers linked by ester moieties. Esters of carboxylic acids usually have a sweet smell and are considered high-quality solvents for a broad array of plastics, plasticizers, resins, and lacquers.^[2] They are also one of the largest classes of synthetic lubricants on the commercial market.^[3]

[1]

[2]

[3]

Name	Structure
Methyl nitrate^[4]
Methyl formate^[5]
Methyl acetate^[6]
Methyl acrylate
Methyl propionate^[7]
Methyl butyrate^[8]
Methyl pentanoate^[9]
Methyl benzoate^[10]
Methyl anthranilate^[11]
Methyl salicylate^[12]
Methyl phenylacetate^[13]
Methyl cinnamate^[14]

Name	Structure
Ethyl formate^[15]
Ethyl acetate^[16]
Ethyl propionate^[17]
Ethyl lactate^[18]
Ethyl butyrate^[19]
Ethyl pentanoate^[20]
Ethyl isovalerate^[21]
Ethyl hexanoate^[22]
Ethyl heptanoate^[23]
Ethyl benzoate^[24]
Ethyl salicylate^[25]
Ethyl octanoate^[26]
Ethyl cinnamate^[27]
Ethyl decanoate^[28]

Name	Structure
Propyl acetate
Propyl propanoate
Propyl hexanoate
Allyl hexanoate
Isopropyl acetate
Isopropyl salicylate
Isopropyl palmitate

Name	Structure
Butyl formate
Butyl acetate
Isobutyl formate
Isobutyl acetate
Sec-Butyl formate
Sec-Butyl acetate
Tert-Butyl formate
Tert-Butyl acetate
Butyl butyrate

Name	Structure
Amyl acetate
Pentyl butyrate
Pentyl propanoate
Pentyl hexanoate
Sec-Amyl acetate

List of esters

By number of R' group carbons (R−C(=O)−O−R')

1 carbon

2 carbons

3 carbons

4 carbons

5 carbons

7 carbons

8 carbons

10 carbons

By number of R group carbons (R−C(=O)−O−R')

0 carbons

1 carbon

2 carbons

3 carbons

4 carbons

5 carbons

6 carbons

7 carbons

8 carbons

9 carbons

10 carbons

16 carbons

List of ester odorants

Lactones

References

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