Ali Naqvi

Abstract:

Ester-containing compounds have a wide variety of uses, ranging from pharmaceuticals to food-flavoring. A common synthetic process is the Steglich esterification, which links carboxylic acids and alcohols into the desired ester using carbodiimide coupling agents. However, this process traditionally uses chlorinated or amide solvents, which pose significant environmental and health hazards. Prior studies in our lab developed a safer alternative—using acetonitrile solvent— to yield esters with similar rates and yields. Further work studied the kinetics of this reaction in situ using 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. This project builds upon that foundation through the synthesis, purification, and 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR characterization of the fluorinated ester compounds.