Kinetic study on the esterification of hexanoic acid with N,N-dialkylamino alcohols: Evidence for an activation by hydrogen bonding

Stefan Breitenlechner, Thorsten Bach

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The pseudo-first order rate constant for the esterification of hexanoic acid (1) and five different N,N-dialkylamino alcohols (2) was determined in comparison to 1-hexanol (k = 0.67 · 10-5 s-1). The values range from 0.60 · 10-5 s-1 to 9.3 · 10-5 s-1. The data suggest a differing reactivity for structurally related compounds, which is directly correlated to the ability of the corresponding amino alcohol to activate the carboxylic acid by hydrogen bonding. A seven-membered transition state C≠ is postulated for reactions of 2-amino alcohols. The fastest reaction was observed for trans-2-(N,N- dimethylamino)cyclohexanol (2e), in which the amino and the hydroxyl groups are in an almost perfect synperiplanar 1,2-position. Attempts to further enhance the rate of the esterification by the addition of potential catalysts failed. Only Cu(OTf)2 (2.5 mol-%) allowed for a moderate rate increase from 7.5 · 10-5 s-1 (uncatalyzed) to 14.8 · 10 -5 s-1 (catalyzed) in the esterification of hexanoic acid (1) with 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethanol (2a).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)583-588
Number of pages6
JournalZeitschrift fur Naturforschung - Section B Journal of Chemical Sciences
Volume61
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

Keywords

  • Acylation
  • Amino Alcohols
  • Hydrogen Bonds
  • Kinetics
  • Transition States

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