KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF ACETALDEHYDE CHLORINATION IN A NONPOLAR SOLVENT - 2 - IDENTIFICATION OF INTERMEDIATES

IR and UV spectroscopy was used to show that two cyclic intermediate c omplexes are formed in the reaction of acetaldehyde with trichloroacet ic acid in CCl4 solutions. These complexes have a one-to-one compositi on and different structures, which are in equilibrium with each other. Quantum-chemical calculations of the acetaldehyde-trichloroacetic aci d and acetaldehyde-nHCl (n = 1, 2) systems were performed. The results of these studies are suggestive of the structure and composition of i ntermediates in acetaldehyde chlorination, which were postulated on th e basis of kinetic data. The reasons for selective chlorination of the methyl group in acetaldehyde were found.