Ethyl ether formation

Traditionally, ethanol has been made from ethylene by sulfation followed by hydrolysis of the ethyl sulfate so produced. This type of process has the disadvantages of severe corrosion problems, the requirement for sulfuric acid reconcentration, and loss of yield caused by ethyl ether formation. Recently a successful direct catalytic hydration of ethylene has been accomplished on a commercial scale. This process, developed by Veba-Chemie in Germany, uses a fixed bed catalytic reaction system. Although direct hydration plants have been operated by Shell Chemical and Texas Eastman, Veba claims technical and economic superiority because of new catalyst developments. Because of its economic superiority, it is now replacing the sulfuric acid based process and has been licensed to British Petroleum in the United Kingdom, Publicker Industries in the United States, and others. By including ethanol dehydrogenation facilities, Veba claims that acetaldehyde can be produced indirectly from ethylene by this combined process at costs competitive with the catalytic oxidation of ethylene. 

Figure 4.32. Ethyl ethyl ether formation via associative mechanism. Energies in kJ/molI .

Vanderhaegen B., Neven H., Verstrepen K.J., Delvaux F.R., Verachtert FI., Derdelinckx G. Influence of the brewing process on furfuryl ethyl ether formation during beer aging. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52 6755-6764 (2004). 

The ethyl ether formation is favored at 190 °C, being exothermic and reversible. It is not influenced by the pressure, but this depends on the water vapor and of course the catalyst. 

Triiodoacetic acid [594-68-3] (I CCOOH), mol wt 437.74, C2HO2I3, mp 150°C (decomposition), is soluble in water, ethyl alcohol, and ethyl ether. It has been prepared by heating iodic acid and malonic acid in boiling water (63). Solutions of triiodoacetic acid are unstable as evidenced by the formation of iodine. Triiodoacetic acid decomposes when heated above room temperature to give iodine, iodoform, and carbon dioxide. The sodium and lead salts have been prepared. 

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid is miscible in all proportions with water and is soluble in many polar organic solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and acetonitrile. In addition, it is soluble in alcohols, ketones, ethers, and esters, but these generally are not suitably inert solvents. The acid reacts with ethyl ether to give a colorless, Hquid oxonium complex, which on further heating gives the ethyl ester and ethylene. Reaction with ethanol gives the ester, but in addition dehydration and ether formation occurs. 

After the amine is removed, a single extraction with ethyl ether is sufficient to provide a 98% pure product ia ca 75% yield. Lithium borohydride is a hygroscopic, white powder that decomposes slowly at its melting poiat, evolving hydrogen. The heat of formation is —190 kJ/mol (—45.4 kcal/mol). 

Isoprene [78-79-5] (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is a colorless, volatile Hquid that is soluble in most hydrocarbons but is practically insoluble in water. Isoprene forms binary azeotropes with water, methanol, methylamine, acetonitrile, methyl formate, bromoethane, ethyl alcohol, methyl sulfide, acetone, propylene oxide, ethyl formate, isopropyl nitrate, methyla1 (dimethoxymethane), ethyl ether, and / -pentane. Ternary azeotropes form with water—acetone, water—acetonitrile, and methyl formate—ethyl bromide (8). Typical properties of isoprene are Hsted in Table 1. 

Aluminum chloride dissolves readily in chlorinated solvents such as chloroform, methylene chloride, and carbon tetrachloride. In polar aprotic solvents, such as acetonitrile, ethyl ether, anisole, nitromethane, and nitrobenzene, it dissolves forming a complex with the solvent. The catalytic activity of aluminum chloride is moderated by these complexes. Anhydrous aluminum chloride reacts vigorously with most protic solvents, such as water and alcohols. The ability to catalyze alkylation reactions is lost by complexing aluminum chloride with these protic solvents. However, small amounts of these "procatalysts" can promote the formation of catalyticaHy active aluminum chloride complexes. 

The addition product, C QHgNa, called naphthalenesodium or sodium naphthalene complex, may be regarded as a resonance hybrid. The ether is more than just a solvent that promotes the reaction. StabiUty of the complex depends on the presence of the ether, and sodium can be Hberated by evaporating the ether or by dilution using an indifferent solvent, such as ethyl ether. A number of ether-type solvents are effective in complex preparation, such as methyl ethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, dioxane, and THF. Trimethyl amine also promotes complex formation. This reaction proceeds with all alkah metals. Other aromatic compounds, eg, diphenyl, anthracene, and phenanthrene, also form sodium complexes (16,20). 

Etherification. Carbohydrates are involved in ether formation, both intramoleculady and intermoleculady (1,13). The cycHc ether, 1,4-sorbitan, an 1,4-anhydroalditol, has already been mentioned. 3,6-Anhydro-a-D-galactopyranosyl units are principal monomer units of the carrageenans. Methyl, ethyl, carboxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, and hydroxypropyl ethers of cellulose (qv) are all commercial materials. The principal starch ethers are the hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropylethers (see Cellulose ethers Starch). 

Diethyl ether is the principal by-product of the reaction of ethyl alcohol with diethyl sulfate. Various methods have been proposed to diminish its formation (70—72), including separation of diethyl sulfate from the reaction product. Diethyl sulfate not only causes an increase in ether formation but is also more difficult to hydroly2e to alcohol than is ethyl hydrogen sulfate. The equiUbrium constant for the hydrolysis of ethyl hydrogen sulfate is independent of temperature, and the reaction rate is proportional to the hydrogen ion concentration (73—75). 

Hydrogenation of Acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde made from acetylene can be hydrogenated to ethanol with the aid of a supported nickel catalyst at 150°C (156). A large excess of hydrogen containing 0.3% of oxygen is recommended to reduce the formation of ethyl ether. Anhydrous ethanol has also been made by hydrogenating acetaldehyde over a copper-on-pumice catalyst (157). 

Bromochloromethane Methyl ether Methyl ethyl ether Methyl ethyl ketone Methyl formate 2-Methyl furan... 

Ethyl chloride Ethyl ether Ethyl formate 2-Ethyl hexanol Ethyl mercaptan Ethyl silicate Ethylene... 

Steroidal 17-cyanohydrins are relatively stable towards chromium trioxide in acetic acid (thus permitting oxidation of a 3-hydroxyl group ) and towards ethyl orthoformate in ethanolic hydrogen chloride (thus permitting enol ether formation of a 3-keto-A system ). Sodium and K-propanol reduction produces the 17j -hydroxy steroid, presumably by formation of the 17-ketone prior to reduction. ... 

If 18 parts of piperidine are used instead of 12 parts of methylethylamine then the same procedure results in the formation of p-chloro-benzyhydril-(/3-piperidino-ethyl) ether, boiling at 178° to 180°C under 0.15 mm pressure. 

Broxton and Bunnett (1979) determined the products of the reaction of 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzenediazonium ions with ethoxide ion in ethanol, which is exactly analogous to the reaction in methanol discussed earlier in this section. These authors found 12.8% 4-chloro-3-nitrophenetole, 83% 2-chloronitrobenzene, and 0.8% 2-nitrophenetole. When the reaction was carried out in C2H5OD, the first- and second-mentioned products contained 99% D and 69% D respectively. Dediazoniation in basic ethanol therefore results in a higher yield of hydro-de-diazoniation with this diazonium salt compared with the reaction in methanol. This is probably due to the slightly higher basicity of the ethoxide ion and to the more facile formation of the radical CH3-CHOH (Packer and Richardson, 1975). Broxton and McLeish (1983 c) measured the rates of (Z) — (E) interconversion for some substituted 2-chlorophenylazo ethyl ethers in ethanol. 

Ethyl chloride Ethyl ether Ethyl formate... 

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