Ortho acid

In organic chemistry, ortho acids are organic, hypothetical chemical compounds having the structure R−C(OH)3 (R = alkyl or aryl).[1]

Ortho acids themselves are unstable and cannot be isolated. However, ortho esters can be synthesized by the Pinner reaction, in which nitriles react with alcohols under acid catalysis:

RCN + 3 R'OH → RC(OR')3 + NH3
  1. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "ortho acids". doi:10.1351/goldbook.O04331