Influence of phase transfer catalysts on etherification of sorbite with allyl chloride.

The etherification of sorbite by allyl chloride with addition of a suitable catalyst in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide has been studied. The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of various phase transf er catalysts on the course of this reaction, particularly on the degree of the conversion of allyl chloride and on the selectivity of sorbite penthaal lyl and hexaallyl ether. It was found that tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulf ate (VI) was the most active catalyst during the etherification.