Esterification in ionic liquids: the influence of solvent basicity.
The second-order rate constant (k2) for the esterification of methoxyacetic acid with benzyl alcohol is reported in a range of ionic and molecular solvents. The solvent effects on esterification rate are examined by using a linear solvation energy relationship based on the Kamlet-Taft solvent scales (alpha, beta, and pi*). It is shown that the hydrogen bond basicity of the solvent is the dominant parameter in determining the esterification rate and that the best rates are achieved in low basicity solvents.
Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Thomas P
TP
Wells
Jason P
JP
Hallett
Charlotte K
CK
Williams
Tom
T
Welton