CHAPTER 3 / MONO ALKYL SULFATES

1. Introduction 114
2. Sulfation of Alcohols 116
A. Sulfuric Acid 116
2-1. Preparation of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Using Fuming Sulfuric Acid . . .120
2-2. Preparation of Neopentyl Sulfate . . . . . . . .120
2-3. Preparation of Sodium Ethoxylated Tridecyl Sulfate . . . . .120
B. Sulfur Trioxide 121
2-4. Preparation of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate . . . . . .122
a. The Properties and Safe Handling of Sulfur Trioxide 123
C. Chlorosulfonic Acid 124
2-5. Preparation of Sodium Tridecyl Sulfate . . . . .125
2-6. Preparation of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate . . . . . . .125
2-7. General Procedure for the Preparation of Sodium A Ikyl Sulfates of Secondary
Alcohols 127
D. Sulfur Trioxide Complexes . . . . . . . . . 127
2-8. Preparation of Pyridine-SOi Complex . . . . . . .130
2-9. Preparation of Trimethylamine-SOi Complex . . . . .131
2-JO. Preparation of Barium and Lithium ά-2-Butyl Sulfates . . . .133
2-11. Preparation of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Using the Pyridine-SO i Complex 133
E. Sulfamic Acid 134
2-12. Preparation of Ammonium Ethoxylated Tridecyl Sulfate . . . .134
3. Miscellaneous Methods . . .136
References . . . .137

1. INTRODUCTION

Alkyl sulfates are usually prepared by the reaction of alcohols with S 0 3

or its derivatives and by the reaction of unsaturated compounds with sulfuric
acid.
This chapter will mainly be concerned with methods of synthesis of sodium
alkyl sulfates derived from alcohols. These compounds are useful as detergents
and also have biological and biochemical importance. Sulfates are also
synthesized in living systems and their preparation is of interest in medicinal
chemical research.
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