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Influence of chain length on the rate of hydrolysis of polyoxymethylene ethers
Author(s) -
Stais David J.,
King Walter D.,
Vail Sidney L.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1972.070160613
Subject(s) - polyoxymethylene , hydrolysis , isopropyl , chemistry , aqueous solution , reaction rate constant , organic chemistry , kinetics , polymer , physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract Four series of polyoxymethylene ethers (polyformals) [RO(CH 2 O) n R] where R is isopropyl, ethyl, methyl, or methoxyethyl and n = 1–3 have been prepared, examined by GLC, separated by fractional distillation, and characterized by NMR. Rate constants for the aqueous acid hydrolysis of all the compounds have been determined. The isopropyl series appears to be a special case, and as reported in the literature (but in aqueous dioxane), all members of this series hydrolyze at the same rate. In the other series, there is a definite increase in rate, which never exceeds fourfold, in going from n = 1 to n = 2. This increase differs considerably from the 100‐fold increase reported by others in going from CH 3 OCH 2 OCH 3 to CH 3 O(CH 2 O) 2 CH 3 . In all series, the n = 3 compound hydrolyses at practically the same rate as the n = 2 compound.