Accelerated Esterification by Domestic Microwave for the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry

The aim of this work was to offer a green laboratory experiment for undergraduate organic chemistry course. Esterification accelerated by domestic microwave was studied. The reaction occurred within 3 minutes. The odor of the product was used as a tool to indicate the reaction. This convenient, simple and fast experiment provided ground for the lessons on esterification mechanism, nomenclature of ester, physical properties, principle of microwave and green chemistry.