Method summary

The method of analysing different compounds including the bases, and from which the
solvent is the methanol. It is the process of alcoholysis using methanol.

Theory outline

Methanolysis of diethyl acetal to produce dimethyl acetal entails two consecutive steps. The
kinetics of the reaction is such that it is functionally the first order with respect to the diester
and alcohol in both steps. In fact, these reactions are complicated and they involve the
equilibrium process and the acid catalysis. The complex rate will be simplified by the use of a
large excess of the reactant that will drive the equation to the right, that is it favours the
formation of a product.

Apparatus and procedure

Apparatus:

1. gas chromatography system

2.thermostated bath and thermometer

3. pipette and pipette filler

4.burette, glass beaker

5.conical flask

6. micro pipette

Procedure:

25 ml of the methanol-HCL solution is pipetted in a conical flask followed by the 2 ml of

toluene and 10 ml of acetal solution. The timer is started immediately the half of the acetal
has passed. The solution is stirred in the water bath. 250 uL of the solution is micro pipetted
about 20 seconds prior to the given quenching time. 2 uL is then put in the vials to be
analysed in the gas chromatography
Results

Table 2. Peak ratio of three different compounds, EEA, MMA, MEA at a given
quenching time

Sample # Quenching EEA MEA MMA Ln{(EEA)t-

time (s) (EEA) }
1 68 1.718 0.263 0.0188 0.531
2 187 1.602 0.702 0.101 0.460
3 303 0.747 1.148 0.170 -0.315
4 421 0.923 1.024 0.0841 -0.099
5 603 0.649 1.201 0.120 -0.459
6 900 0.363 1.307 0.205 -1.062
7 1200 0.237 1.277 0.256 -1.516
8 1500 0.181 1.274 0.323 -1.810
9 1801 0.143 1.248 0.378 -2.075
10 2102 0.112 1.155 0.428 -2.358
11 2430 0.121 1.167 0.519 -2.267
12 2700 0.0901 1.050 0.511 -2.621
13 3004 0.0816 0.996 0.572 -2.621
14 3301 0.0802 0.966 0.587 -2.769
15 3602 0.0567 0.928 0.616 -3.237
16 3902 0.0543 0.887 0.645 -3,300
17 4201 0.0590 0.966 0.759 -3.180
18 4503 0.0768 0.817 0.707 -2.823
19 ∞ 0.0174 0.208 1.137 -

Sample calculations

peak areaof EEA at time , t

EEA =
peak area of toluene at time , t

855634
=
447994
= 1.718
ln{(EEA)t – (EEA)∞) = ln {(1.718) – (0.017)}
= 0.531
From graph 2
-K’eff = slope
Slope = -0.0008211
Therefore, -K’eff = -0.0008211
K’eff = 0.0008211

( EEA ) , t graph
K”eff = K’eff × { }
( MEA ) , t graph
= 0.0008211 × {0.252/1.277)
= 0.000162 s-1

From equation 6
KI = k1/k-1
4.65 = k1/k-1
K’1= 4.65 k-1 ……eqn 1

KII = K1/K-1
1.1 = k1/k-1
K’’1 = 1.01k-1 ………eqn 2

Substitute K’1 or K”1 to equation 10

K’eff = k’1 + k’-1

0.00008211 = 4.65k-1 +k-1

K’-1 = 1.453×10-4

K”eff = k”1 + k”2

0.000162 = 1.01k”-1 + k-1

K”-1 = 8.060×10-5 s-1

substituting k’-1 and k’’-1 to eqn…. 1 and 2

k’-1 = 4.65k’-1

= 4.65 (1.435×10-4)
 = 6.756×10-4 s-1

K”-1 = 1.01 k”-1

= 1.01 × 8.060×10-5

= 8.141×10-5 s-1

Discussion

The main objection of this experiment was to investigate the kinetic of methanolysis
of diethyl acetal using the gas chromatography. In the solution of Methanol and
hydrochloric acid, toluene and acetal acid solutions were added, Toluene acts as an
internal standard and it helps in eliminating the interferent. Reaction was quenched
by the addition of an ammonia solution at a given time as shown in table 1. The
timing of the reaction time was quite challenging because all quenching time are
above by two second from given one. All the quenched solutions were put to the
vials so that may be inserted to gas chromatography for the analysis. The gas
chromatography will detect peak height of four compound (Methanol (dimethyl
acetal) MMA, EEA (diethyl acetal), MEA (methyl ethyl acetal) and toluene) as seen
on table 1.

The effective rate constant, (k’eff) for methanolysis of diethyl acetal was found to be
0.0008211s-1. it is found from graph 2, the plot of Ln{(EEA)t –EEA)∞} against
quenching time in seconds, .k’eff is equal to the negative slope. The effective rate
constant (k’’eff) for methanolysis of Methylethyl acetal was found to be 0.000162 s -1.
The magnitude of the rate constants, k’-1, k’’-1, k’1, k’’1 were also determined and
found to be 1.453 x10-4 s-1, 8.060 x10-5 s-1, 6.756 x 10-4 s-1, 8.141 x10-5 s-1
respectively.

Conclusion

The study of kinetics of Methanolysis reaction of diethyl acetal and the rate constant
for the two-step reaction was successful. The effective rate constant (k’ eff) for
methanolysis of diethyl acetal was found to be 0.0008211 s -1. The effective rate
constant (k’’eff), for methanolysis of Methylethyl acetal is 0.000162x10 -4 s-1. The
magnitude of the rate constant, k’1, k’’1, k’-1, k’’-1 were found to be 6.756 x10-4 s-1,
8.141 x10-5 s-1, 1.453 x 10-4 s-1 and 8.060 x10-5 s-1 respectively.

Answers to questions

1. Estimate error for K’eff = SD of slope × no. of points

= 7.557 ×10-5 × 18

= ± 0.001360

Estimate error for K’’eff = 1.62×10-4 ÷ 0.001360

= ± 0.11909

2.

 The values of K’-1 and K’’-1 are different so that shows that the rate of the
reverse reaction is also different for all reverse reactions.

 The value K’eff is greater than the value of K’’eff because of the fast reaction first
in first step than the next reaction occurring.

 The individual rate constants K’1 and K’’1 are different, because rate constant
for all forward reaction appeared the same. And there are some intermediates
compound occurring.

3 t* = (In K’’eff - In K’eff ) /(K’’eff - K’eff )

= (In 1.62 ×10-4 - In 8.211 ×10-4 / 1.62×10-4 – 8.211 ×10-4)

= 2462.52 seconds

= 41.04 min

References:

1. Atkins. P.W. and De Paula. J.,2006, Physical Chemistry ,8th Edition.

2. Physical chemistry (chem. 330) manual 20114. page 25 – 34