ALKALINE-HYDROLYSIS OF NORMAL-BUTYL ACETATE WITH PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYST ALIQUOT 336

A reasonable analytical procedure of the overall reaction rate for the phase transfer catalysis with mass transfer is discussed. Alkaline hydrolysis of n-butyl acetate with a phase transfer catalyst Aliquat 336 (tricaprylmethylammonium chloride, Q+Cl-) was chosen as a model system and carried out in an agitated vessel with a flat interface. Overall reaction rates observed were proportional to the interfacial concentration of the actual reactant Q+OH- (the ion pair consisting of quaternary ammonium cation Q+ and OH-) for the hydrolysis in the organic phase. The interfacial concentration of Q+OH- was a unique function of bulk concentrations of the catalyst and NaOH, and the ionic strength of the aqueous solution. This behavior of the overall reaction rates was explained by the proposed model solution. The reaction rate constant, evaluated by fitting the rate data to the model prediction, was 47 m3/kmol.s at 298 K. It was 70 or more times greater than that of conventional alkaline hydrolysis in the aqueous phase.