Final answer:
The statement about ester preparation from a carboxylic acid anhydride and phenol in the presence of KOH is true, as carboxylic acid anhydrides can react with phenols to form esters when phenols are made more nucleophilic by a base like KOH.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that esters can be prepared through the reaction of a carboxylic acid anhydride with a phenol in the presence of KOH is true. The conventional method of esterification involves heating a carboxylic acid with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. However, when a carboxylic acid anhydride is used, this can also react with a phenol to form an ester, and the reaction can be facilitated by a base such as KOH. Carboxylic acid anhydrides are reactive towards nucleophiles such as phenols, as they can form a more stable leaving group, which promotes the reaction towards ester formation. In this case, the base (KOH) acts to deprotonate the phenol, enhancing its nucleophilicity, which helps it to attack the acyl carbon of the anhydride, leading to ester formation.