Many esters are very fragrant. Esters are widely used as flavoring agents. Ethyl formate Rum Isopentyl acetate Banana Octyl acetate Orange Ethyl butyrate Pineapple Methyl butyrate Apple Isobutyl formate Raspberry Methyl salicylate Wintergreen Reactions of Esters. Esters can be converted back to carboxylic acids and alcohols under either acidic or basic conditions. Hydrolysis , the reaction with water in the presence of acid, produces the carboxylic acid and alcohol.
Saponification occurs in the presence of a base to produce the carboxylate salt and alcohol.
Esters of Inorganic Acids. Alcohols can also form esters by reaction with inorganic acids such as phosphoric acid. Phosphate esters represent some of the most important biological compounds, ATP and ADP are examples.