Final Answer:
The reaction commonly used to cleave an ester or amide is hydrolysis. This involves the use of water in the presence of an acid or a base, leading to the breaking of the ester or amide bond and the formation of the corresponding carboxylic acid and alcohol or amine, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Esters and amides can be cleaved through hydrolysis, a chemical reaction involving the addition of water. This process is typically catalyzed by an acid or a base. In the presence of an acid, the reaction is called acid hydrolysis, while in the presence of a base, it is termed base hydrolysis or saponification.
In acid hydrolysis, the ester or amide reacts with water in the presence of an acid catalyst. For example, in the hydrolysis of an ester, the reaction can be represented as RCOOR' + H2O → RCOOH + R'OH. Here, R and R' are organic groups. The acid catalyzes the reaction by donating a proton to the carbonyl oxygen, facilitating nucleophilic attack by water.
Similarly, base hydrolysis involves the reaction of an ester or amide with water in the presence of a base catalyst. For esters, the reaction can be represented as RCOOR + OH → RCOO + ROH. The base catalyzes the reaction by abstracting a proton from water, generating hydroxide ions that attack the carbonyl carbon.
In both cases, the result is the cleavage of the ester or amide bond, yielding carboxylic acids and the corresponding alcohol or amine products. Hydrolysis is a fundamental reaction in organic chemistry, playing a crucial role in the breakdown of various biological molecules and the synthesis of important chemical compounds.