General

What is the IUPAC alkoxyalkane convention for naming esters?

1. To name the alkyl alkanoate (i.e. ester), identify the carbon chains that are separated by an ``ether" oxygen, i.e. $C-O-C$.
2. Naming the two halves:
   • Name the chain without the carbonyl group: this is the ``alkyl" chain; with the suffix of ``-yl''
   • Name the chain with the carbonyl group: this is the ``alkanoate" chain; with the suffix of ``-oate"

Figure 48.6: Esters: (left) Ethyl methanoate and (right) but-2-yl 3-methylpentanoate. Note: the location of the carbonyl group determines which is the alkanoate chain.

What is a notable physical and chemical property of esters?

Esters cannot form hydrogen bonds and so they also have lower boiling points. Also, esters smell sweet; different esters smell like various fruits, including raspberries, apples, bananas, pears and oranges.