Detection of the tetrahedral reaction intermediate of the reaction of acetyl chloride with ethanol in microdroplets laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of chemical reactions is of great interest to scientists working in many fields as it enables the rationalization, prediction, and design of reactions. Many chemical processes involve the formation of short-lived reaction intermediates, most of which cannot be isolated and are challenging to detect. One such intermediate is the tetrahedral intermediate often proposed to be generated upon the reactions of acetyl chlorides with simple alcohols an addition/elimination mechanism.