--- title: "Perkin reaction Template – Chemistry Diagram | MolDraw" url: https://www.moldraw.com/templates/perkin-reaction/ description: "Perkin reaction template: Acetate forms the enolate of acetic anhydride, which adds to benzaldehyde; the alkoxide is acetylated, E1cB loss of acetate gives…" lang: en publisher: Scidart Academy generated: 2026-10-28 --- [MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/) › [Templates](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/) › [Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/name-reactions/) › Perkin reaction [Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/name-reactions/)Premium # Perkin reaction template ![Perkin reaction template: Acetate forms the enolate of acetic anhydride, which adds to benzaldehyde; the alkoxide is acetylated, E1cB loss of acetate gives the C=C, and hydrolysis of the anhydride gives (E)-cinnamic acid.](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/perkin-reaction.webp) [Edit in MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/)Download with Pro Premium template. Preview and edit it free in MolDraw; downloading and exporting it is part of [MolDraw Pro](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing). Acetate forms the enolate of acetic anhydride, which adds to benzaldehyde; the alkoxide is acetylated, E1cB loss of acetate gives the C=C, and hydrolysis of the anhydride gives (E)-cinnamic acid. ## Mechanism step by step An aromatic aldehyde and an anhydride with its sodium salt give a cinnamic acid 1. **Enolate** – Acetate removes an α-H of the anhydride 2. **Addition** – The enolate attacks the aldehyde carbon 3. **Acetylation** – The alkoxide attacks acetic anhydride 4. **Collapse** – C=O re-forms; acetate leaves 5. **Enolate** – Acetate removes an α-H next to the anhydride C=O 6. **Elimination (E1cB)** – Acetate leaves: the conjugated C=C 7. **Hydrolysis** – In the aqueous work-up hydroxide attacks the acetyl C=O 8. **Cinnamate** – C=O re-forms and cinnamate leaves; acid then gives cinnamic acid ## Key points - The base is the sodium salt of the acid that forms the anhydride (CH₃CO₂Na with (CH₃CO)₂O). - Only aromatic aldehydes (no α-H) are used, so the aldehyde cannot form an enolate itself. - The new C=C is E (trans): the phenyl and the carboxyl group end up on opposite sides. - Gives cinnamic acids and coumarin (from salicylaldehyde). Drawn with 272 atoms, 25 arrows, 14 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw. ## Sources - [Kürti & Czakó, Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis, Elsevier 2005](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780124297852) Textbook - [Furniss et al., Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, 5th ed., Longman 1989](https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780582462366) Textbook ## How to use this template 1. Press **Edit in MolDraw**. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor. 2. Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need. 3. Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page. 4. Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the Perkin reaction template free? You can preview the Perkin reaction template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates. ### Can I edit the Perkin reaction template? Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it. ### Is the chemistry checked? Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page. ### Which name reactions are included? Over seventy, covering the reactions most often asked in school-leaving exams (A-level, IB, CBSE, JEE and NEET) and first-year university courses, including condensations, rearrangements, oxidations, reductions and aromatic substitutions. ## More name reactions templates [**Fischer esterification**Free · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/fischer-esterification/)[**Grignard addition to a ketone**Free · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/grignard-addition/)[**Michael addition**Free · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/michael-addition/)[**Diels–Alder reaction**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/diels-alder/)[**Friedel–Crafts acylation**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/friedel-crafts-acylation/)[**Claisen condensation**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/claisen-condensation/)[**Friedel–Crafts alkylation**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/friedel-crafts-alkylation/)[**Cannizzaro reaction**Premium · Name reactions](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/cannizzaro-reaction/) ## Related pages [**Curved Arrow Mechanism Worksheet**Free printable worksheet](https://www.moldraw.com/educational-materials/curved-arrow-mechanism-worksheet/)[**Predict the Product Worksheet: Organic Reactions**Free printable worksheet](https://www.moldraw.com/educational-materials/predict-the-product-worksheet/)[**All Name reactions templates**72 templates](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/name-reactions/)[**All chemistry templates**370 templates in 29 categories](https://www.moldraw.com/templates/) MolDraw Pro Download all 370 templates - Export the 291 premium templates as PNG, SVG or PDF - AI chemistry assistant - Structure scanning from images - Cloud save and teaching slides [See Pro plans](https://www.moldraw.com/pricing) Free templates stay free. 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