This document details an experiment conducted in Organic Chemistry Laboratory II to synthesize isopentyl acetate via an acid-catalyzed Fischer esterification. Fischer esterification occurs by refluxing a carboxylic acid with the appropriate alcohol in the presence of a strong acid catalyst to form the corresponding ester and water. Therefore, in order to synthesize isopentyl acetate, acetic acid was refluxed with isopentyl alcohol in the presence of sulfuric acid. After extracting the acids, the organic phase containing the ester was collected and dehydrated by anhydrous sodium sulfate then distilled to isolate it from the water. To verify the identity and determine the purity of the crude isopentyl acetate product, an IR spectrometer was used to obtain its IR spectrum. IR spectra are interpreted by noting the presence and absence of distinctive absorptions and comparing them to commonly accepted, predetermined tables of the most common characteristic regions of importance. Specifically described in the discussion section of the lab report, analysis of the IR spectrum revealed four unique peaks consistent with the molecular structure of isopentyl acetate; the absence of any other noticeably relevant bands suggested the product's high level of purity. To view the lab report in detail, please click the button above.