Activated charcoal as an effective additive for alkaline and acidic hydrolysis of esters in water

Activated charcoal largely enhanced the rates of the alkaline hydrolysis of methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl esters in aqueous 1.5 M NaOH solution to give the corresponding carboxylic acids in excellent yields. The acidic hydrolysis of methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl esters in aqueous 3 M H2SO4 solution was accelerated by the addition of activated charcoal to afford the corresponding carboxylic acids in good yields.