2- alkyl ester

Of the alkyl esters, methyl esters are the most useful because of their rapid hydrolysis. The acid is refluxed with one or two equivalents of methanol in excess alcohol-free chloroform (or dichloromethane) containing about O.lg of p-toluenesulfonic acid (as catalyst), using a Dean-Stark apparatus. (The water formed by the 

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CH OfiSj, H2C(S03H)2- a colourless, crystalline solid which readily absorbs water vapour decomposes on distillation. The potassium salt is prepared by heating methylene chloride with an aqueous solution of potassium sulphite under pressure at 150-I60" C. The free acid is obtained by decomposing the sparingly soluble barium salt with sulphuric acid. The aryl esters are very stable, but the alkyl esters decompose on heating to give ethers. Resembles malonic acid in some of its reactions. 

NOTE. Many esters reduce Fehling s solution on warming. This reduction occurs rapidly with the alkyl esters of many aliphatic acids, but scarcely at all with similar esters of aromatic acids (f.g., ethyl oxalate reduces, but ethyl benzoate does not). Note also that this is a property of the ester itself thus both methyl and ethyl oxalate reduce Fehling s solution very rapidly, whereas neither oxalic acid, nor sodium oxalate, nor a mixture of the alcohol and oxalic acid (or sodium oxalate), reduces the solution. 

Methyl p-toluenesulphonate. This, and other alkyl esters, may be prepared in a somewhat similar manner to the n-butyl ester with good results. Use 500 g. (632 ml.) of methyl alcohol contained in a 1 litre three-necked or bolt-head flask. Add 500 g. of powdered pure p-toluene-sulphonyl chloride with mechanical stirring. Add from a separatory funnel 420 g. of 25 per cent, sodium hydroxide solution drop by drop maintain the temperature of the mixture at 23-27°. When all the alkali has been introduced, test the mixture with litmus if it is not alkaline, add more alkali until the mixture is neutral. Allow to stand for several hours the lower layer is the eater and the upper one consists of alcohol. Separate the ester, wash it with water, then with 4 per cent, sodium carbonate solution and finally with water. Dry over a little anhydrous magnesium sulphate, and distil under reduced pressure. Collect the methyl p-toluenesulphonate at 161°/10 mm. this solidifies on cooling and melts at 28°. The yield is 440 g. 

The alkyl esters of sulphonlc acids exhibit properties similar to those of the alkyl sulphates, and are hydrolysed, by boiling with aqueous alkalis, to the alcohols and sulphonates. Thus with ethyl p-toluenesulphonate ... 

Alkylethers (269), R2 = alkyl, are obtained by the action of phosphorus pentasulfide on alkyl esters of a-acylamino acids (64, 334, 711) by means of the GabriePs synthesis (Section II.4), while aryl ethers (269), = aryl,... 

Formation of esters of inorganic acids (Section 15 9) Alkyl nitrates dialkyl sulfates trialkyl phos phites and trialkyl phosphates are examples of alkyl esters of inor game acids In some cases these compounds are prepared by the direct reaction of an alcohol and the inorganic acid... 

Secondary and branched-chain alkyl esters isopropyl [689-12-3] 52 13.7 1.4060 0.8932... 

Direct, acid catalyzed esterification of acryhc acid is the main route for the manufacture of higher alkyl esters. The most important higher alkyl acrylate is 2-ethyIhexyi acrylate prepared from the available 0x0 alcohol 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (see Alcohols, higher aliphatic). The most common catalysts are sulfuric or toluenesulfonic acid and sulfonic acid functional cation-exchange resins. Solvents are used as entraining agents for the removal of water of reaction. The product is washed with base to remove unreacted acryhc acid and catalyst and then purified by distillation. The esters are obtained in 80—90% yield and in exceUent purity. 

Dialkylaminoethyl acryhc esters are readily prepared by transesterification of the corresponding dialkylaminoethanol (102,103). Catalysts include strong acids and tetraalkyl titanates for higher alkyl esters and titanates, sodium phenoxides, magnesium alkoxides, and dialkyitin oxides, as well as titanium and zirconium chelates, for the preparation of functional esters. Because of loss of catalyst activity during the reaction, incremental or continuous additions may be required to maintain an adequate reaction rate. 

Acrolein, acrylamide, hydroxyalkyl acrylates, and other functional derivatives can be more hazardous from a health standpoint than acryhc acid and its simple alkyl esters. Furthermore, some derivatives, such as the alkyl 2-chloroacrylates, are powerful vesicants and can cause serious eye injuries. Thus, although the hazards of acryhc acid and the normal alkyl acrylates are moderate and they can be handled safely with ordinary care to industrial hygiene, this should not be assumed to be the case for compounds with chemically different functional groups (see Industrial hygiene Plant safety Toxicology). 

Alkyl esters of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, commonly called triflates, have been prepared from the silver salt and an alkyl iodide, or by reaction of the anhydride with an alcohol (18,20,21). Triflates of the 1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkanols, CF2S020CH2R can be prepared by the reaction of perfluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride with the dihydroalcohol in the presence of triethylamine (22,23). Triflates are important intermediates in synthetic chemistry. They are among the best leaving groups known, so they are commonly employed in anionic displacement reactions. 

Epo>y Compounds. Epoxidized soya oil (ESO) is the most widely used epoxy-type additive and is found ia most mixed metal stabilized PVC formulations at 1.0—3.0 phr due to its versatiHty and cost effectiveness. Other usefiil epoxy compounds are epoxidized glycerol monooleate, epoxidized linseed oil, and alkyl esters of epoxidized tall oil fatty acid. 

Methacrylic acid polymer is iasoluble ia the monomer, which may result ia the plugging of transfer lines and vent systems. Polymers of the lower alkyl esters are often soluble ia the parent monomer and may be detected by an iacrease ia solution viscosity. Alternatively, dilution with a nonsolvent for the polymer such as methanol results ia the formation of haze and can be used as a diagnostic tool for determining presence of polymer. 

Thermal or photo-induced decompositions of dialkyl peroxides in the presence of suitable substrates yield various products. For example, with nitric oxides, alkyl nitrites or nitrates are formed and, with carbon monoxide, Z fZ-alkyl esters are obtained (44) ... 

Peroxyesters include the alkyl esters of peroxycarboxyhc acids monoperoxydicarboxyhc acids diperoxycarboxyhc acids monoperoxy- (30) and diperoxycarbonic (31) acids monoperoxy- (32) and diperoxyoxahc (33) acids peroxycarbamic acids (34) peroxysulfonic acids (35) and peroxyphosphoric acids (36). 

Enzymatic acylation reactions offer considerable promise in the synthesis of specific ester derivatives of sucrose. For example, reaction of sucrose with an activated alkyl ester in /V, /V- dim ethyl form am i de in the presence of subtilisin gave 1 -0-butyrylsucrose, which on further treatment with an activated fatty acid ester in acetone in the presence of Hpase C. viscosum produced the 1, 6-diester derivative (71,72). 

Compounds, eg, phenacyl hahdes, ben2yl hahdes, alkyl iodides, or alkyl esters of sulfonic acids, react with DMSO at 100—120°C to give aldehydes (qv) and ketones (qv) in 50—85% yields (eq. 8) (41) ... 

Where thioglycohc acid is manufactured mainly as an iatermediate for conversion to higher alkyl esters, the alcohol of the ester can be used as solvent to extract thioglycohc acid. It is also convenient to manufacture the esters of thioglycohc acid directiy and to use the ester of chloroacetic acid and alkah sulfhydrates (10) as raw material. 

AdeninyUiydroxypropanoic acid alkyl esters [(R,5)-AHPA esters, (30)] represent a new class of broad-spectmm antiviral agents, which are, like (3)-DHPA, targeted at SAH hydrolase (62). The free acid, (R,3)-AHPA, is only weakly active as an antiviral agent. Thus the alkyl moiety merely serves as a protecting group to faciUtate uptake of AHPA by the cells. Within the cells, the AHPA alkyl esters would be hydroly2ed to release the free acid, which should then interact with SAH hydrolase. 

The triaLkoxy(aryloxy)boranes are typically monomeric, soluble in most organic solvents, and dissolve in water with hydrolysis to form boric acid and the corresponding alcohol and phenol. Although the rate of hydrolysis is usually very fast, it is dependent on the bulk of the alkyl or aryl substituent groups bonded to the boron atom. Secondary and tertiary alkyl esters are generally more stable than the primary alkyl esters. The boron atom in these compounds is in a trigonal coplanar state with bond hybridization. A vacantp orbital exists along the threefold axis perpendicular to the BO plane. 

Miscellaneous Commercial Applications. Dimer acids are components of "downweU" corrosion inhibitors for oil-drilling equipment (see Petroleum Corrosion and corrosion inhibitors). This may account for 10% of current dimer acid use (71). The acids, alkyl esters, and polyoxyalkylene dimer esters are used commercially as components of metal-working lubricants (see Lubrication). Dimer esters have achieved some use in specialty lubricant appHcations such as gear oils and compressor lubricants. The dimer esters, compared to dibasic acid esters, polyol esters and poly(a-olefin)s, are higher in cost and of higher viscosity. The higher viscosity, however, is an advantage in some specialties, and the dimer esters are very stable thermally and can be made quite oxidatively stable by choice of proper additives. 

Earlier catalysts were based on cobalt, iron, and nickel. However, recent catalytic systems involve rhodium compounds promoted by methyl iodide and lithium iodide (48,49). Higher mol wt alkyl esters do not show any particular abiUty to undergo carbonylation to anhydrides. 

Ben2oate esters, like most organic esters, are not very toxic. They are not absorbed through the skin as rapidly as alkyl esters but are more potent physiologically. They are also moderate skin irritants. The oral LD qS (mouse) for methyl- to butyUiydroxy ben2oates range between 8 and 5 g/kg. 

Perfumes, Flavors, Cosmetics, and Soap. Many naturally occurring esters in essential oils and some synthetic esters are important fragrance and flavor compounds (61,62). They are used in perfumes, flavors, cosmetics, soaps, detergents, and air fresheners. Benzyl, butyl, ethyl, methyl, and phenyl esters of benzoic acid are used as flavors, perfumes, and food preservatives. Glyceryl 4-aminobenzoate [136-44-7] and 2-ethyUiexyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate [21245-02-3] are used in cosmetic sunscreen preparations. Alkyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, called parabens, have been used under various names for fungus infections of the skin, and as preservatives in lotions and creams (101). Soap and cosmetic fragrances use large amounts of amyl and benzyl saHcylate. Benzyl saHcylate [118-58-1] is also used in deodorant sprays. 2-Ethylhexyl saHcylate [118-60-5] and 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate [5466-77-3] are used in sunscreen formulations (102). 

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