Acoxides

An acoxide is a chemical compound that contains an acylated oxygen atom. This means an oxygen atom is bonded to an acyl group, which is a functional group with the general structure RCO–, where R is an alkyl or aryl group. Acoxides are often considered derivatives of carboxylic acids.

The most common examples of acoxides are esters, which have the general formula RCOOR'. In esters, the oxygen atom of the acyl group is bonded to another alkyl or aryl group (R'). Another class of acoxides are anhydrides of carboxylic acids, with the general formula RCOOCOR'. Here, two acyl groups are linked by an oxygen atom.

Acoxides can be formed through various chemical reactions, including esterification, where a carboxylic acid reacts with an alcohol, and acylation reactions. They are important intermediates in organic synthesis and are found in many naturally occurring compounds. For instance, fats and oils are triglycerides, which are esters of glycerol and fatty acids. Their hydrolysis yields glycerol and fatty acids. Acoxides can undergo hydrolysis to regenerate the parent carboxylic acid and alcohol or amine, depending on the specific acoxide. They can also participate in transesterification reactions, where the alkoxy group of an ester is exchanged with another alcohol.