Activated charcoal as an effective additive for alkaline and acidic hydrolysis of esters in water

What is it about?

Activated charcoal largely enhanced the rates of the alkaline hydrolysis of methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl esters in aqueous 1.5 M NaOH solution to give the corresponding carboxylic acids in excellent yields. The acidic hydrolysis of methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl esters in aqueous 3 M H2SO4 solution was accelerated by the addition of activated charcoal to afford the corresponding carboxylic acids in good yields.

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