Introduction:
The Schotten-Baumann reaction is a chemical reaction that involves the reaction of phenols with benzoyl chloride and sodium hydroxide. This reaction is used to convert phenols into esters.

Reaction:
The reaction can be represented by the following equation:
Phenol + Benzoyl Chloride + Sodium Hydroxide → Phenyl Benzoate + Sodium Chloride + Water

Explanation:
The Schotten-Baumann reaction is a type of esterification reaction that involves the conversion of a phenol into an ester. Let's break down the reaction and understand each step.

1. Formation of the acyl chloride:
In the first step of the reaction, benzoyl chloride (acyl chloride) is formed by treating benzoyl chloride with an acid chloride such as benzoyl chloride. The reaction is usually carried out in the presence of a catalyst such as pyridine.

2. Reaction with phenol:
Once the acyl chloride is formed, it reacts with phenol in the presence of a base, usually sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The base deprotonates the phenol to form a phenoxide ion, which then reacts with the acyl chloride.

3. Formation of the ester:
The nucleophilic phenoxide ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acyl chloride, resulting in the formation of an ester. The reaction is an example of an acyl substitution reaction, where the acyl group of the acyl chloride is replaced by the phenoxide ion.

4. Formation of byproducts:
The reaction also produces sodium chloride (NaCl) and water as byproducts. The sodium chloride is formed by the reaction between sodium hydroxide and hydrogen chloride, which is released during the reaction between phenoxide ion and acyl chloride. Water is also produced as a result of the reaction between phenoxide ion and acyl chloride.

Conclusion:
The Schotten-Baumann reaction is a useful method for the synthesis of esters from phenols. It involves the reaction of phenols with benzoyl chloride and sodium hydroxide to form esters. The reaction proceeds through the formation of an acyl chloride intermediate, which then reacts with the phenoxide ion to form the ester. This reaction is widely used in organic synthesis for the preparation of various esters.