When ethylene glycol is heated with oxalic acid +conc h2so4 in the presence of heat what is the cylic product we get?

When ethylene glycol is heated with oxalic acid in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, the reaction primarily leads to the formation of a cyclic product known as ethylene oxalate. This process involves the dehydration of ethylene glycol and the oxalic acid, which ultimately results in the creation of a cyclic ester, or lactone.

Breaking Down the Reaction

To understand this reaction, let's look at the components involved:

• Ethylene glycol (HO-CH2-CH2-OH): A diol with two hydroxyl groups.
• Oxalic acid (HOOC-COOH): A dicarboxylic acid with two carboxyl groups.
• Concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4): A strong dehydrating agent that promotes the removal of water from the reaction mixture.

The Mechanism of Action

The reaction occurs in several steps:

1. Dehydration: Concentrated sulfuric acid facilitates the removal of water from ethylene glycol and oxalic acid. This process is crucial as it drives the formation of the cyclic compound.
2. Formation of the cyclic structure: The dehydration leads to the generation of a cyclic intermediate. Ethylene glycol reacts with the carboxyl groups of oxalic acid to form a cyclic ester, specifically ethylene oxalate.

Understanding the Product: Ethylene Oxalate

Ethylene oxalate is a five-membered cyclic compound that contains an ester linkage. Its structure can be visualized as follows:

• It has a central oxygen atom connected to two carbonyl groups (from the oxalic acid).
• The cyclic arrangement provides stability due to resonance and the formation of a ring structure.

Applications and Importance

This reaction is significant in organic synthesis as cyclic esters are valuable intermediates in the production of various chemicals and materials. Ethylene oxalate can further undergo hydrolysis or other reactions to yield useful products.

In summary, when ethylene glycol is heated with oxalic acid and concentrated sulfuric acid, the dehydration reaction leads to the formation of ethylene oxalate, a cyclic ester. This transformation highlights the interesting chemistry of cyclic compounds and their relevance in organic synthesis.