“New” Catalysts for the Ester-Interchange Reaction: The Role of Alkali-Metal Alkoxide Clusters in Achieving Unprecedented Reaction Rates

MG Stanton, CB Allen, RM Kissling…

Index: Stanton, Matthew G. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1998 , vol. 120, # 24 p. 5981 - 5989

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Citation Number: 42

Abstract

The catalytic effect of alkali-metal tert-butoxide clusters on the rate of ester interchange for several pairs of esters has been determined in nonpolar and weakly polar solvents. Reactivities increase in the order (Li+< Na+< K+< Rb+< Cs+) with the fastest rates reaching 107 catalytic turnovers per hour (TO/h). Ester interchange rates were sensitive to the size of both the transferring OR groups and the ester substituent. Phenyl esters did not exchange ...