<![CDATA[This study investigates the esterification reaction of the major constituent of clove essential oil (Syzygiumaromaticum), eugenol, using ethanol as the alcohol reactant. The process was conducted in a closed system with 1 wt% sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) as a catalyst at temperatures ranging from 50 to 80 °C and a reaction duration of up to 120 minutes. Product characterization was performed using FTIR spectroscopy and GC–MS. The results indicate that the optimum reaction conditions were achieved at 70 °C with an ethanol-to-eugenol molar ratio of 8:1, yielding a maximum conversion of 91%. The FTIR spectrum confirmed ester formation through the appearance of a characteristic carbonyl (C=O) absorption at 1738 cm⁻¹ and a notable decrease in the hydroxyl (O–H) band at 3200–3400 cm⁻¹. Furthermore, GC–MS analysis revealed a dominant chromatographic peak consistent with the molecular structure of ethyl eugenylether, demonstrating the successful completion of the esterification reaction. The kinetic study showed that the reaction followed a pseudo-second-order model with an activation energy of 42.7 kJ/mol, while the mechanistic pathway proceeded via Fischer esterification involving a tetrahedral intermediate. These findings highlight that ester formation from eugenol can be interpreted fundamentally from a molecular and thermodynamic perspective. Moreover, the study reinforces the theoretical concept of esterification in organic chemistry and supports the potential utilization of clove essential oil as a natural feedstock for the synthesis of fragrance compounds and environmentally friendly additives.]]>
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