How Does Bronsted Acidity Affect Reaction Mechanisms?
Bronsted acidity can alter reaction mechanisms by stabilizing transition states and intermediates through protonation. For example, in the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction, a Bronsted acid protonates the alkylating agent, generating a more electrophilic species that can readily react with an aromatic ring. Similarly, in esterification reactions, Bronsted acids protonate the carbonyl oxygen of a carboxylic acid, increasing its electrophilicity and facilitating nucleophilic attack by an alcohol.
