Alkaline hydrolysis

For other uses, see Alkaline hydrolysis (death custom).

Alkaline hydrolysis, in organic chemistry, usually refers to types of nucleophilic substitution reactions in which the attacking nucleophile is a hydroxide ion.

Example

In the alkaline hydrolysis of esters and amides the hydroxide ion nucleophile attacks the carbonyl carbon in a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction. This mechanism is supported by isotope labeling experiments. For example, when ethyl propionate with an oxygen-18 labeled ethoxy group is treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), the oxygen-18 is completely absent from the sodium propionate product and is found exclusively in the ethanol formed.

Uses

Drain cleaners take advantage of this method to dissolve hair and fat in pipes.

See also

• Saponification
• Acid hydrolysis
• Enzymatic hydrolysis