KINETICS OF EQUILIBRIUM CATALYTIC ESTERIFICATION - EFFECT OF SOLVENTS- MODEL STUDIES

The proton-donor capacities of solutions of methanesulfonic acid in mi xtures of ethanol with ethyl acetate, heptane, dichloroethane, and dio xane depends primarily on the polarity of the solvent added rather tha n on its acid-base properties. The rate of esterification of acetic ac id in the indicated solutions is directly proportional to their proton -donor capacities. It was concluded that in catalytic esterification t he medium primarily affects the relative amount of the protonated form of the carboxylic acid rather than the rate of its reaction with the alcohol.