The solid-state substitution reaction between halogenoacetates and metal halides

Halogenoacetates react with metal halides in the solid state via halogen exchange, This was studied in detail for the reaction between sodium chloroacetate and sodium iodide to sodium iodoacetate and sodium chloride. The reaction was followed at 50, 70, and 90 degrees C by discontinuous proton NMR spectroscopy and at 90 degrees C by in situ high-temperature X-ray powder diffractometry (TXRD). The reaction leads to an incorporation of iodoacetate into the chloroacetate lattice, This destabilizes the lattice and accelerates the thermal decomposition of the sodium halogenoacetates. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.