The neutral hydrolysis of methyl acetate — Part 1. Kinetic experiments

Abstract

The neutral hydrolysis of methyl acetate and catalysis of the reaction by the acetic acid product have been studied in the temperature range 90–110 °C. Extrapolated to 25 °C, the rate constants are 0.17 × 10 −8 s –1 for the uncatalyzed reaction and 1.4 × 10 −4 (mol/L) –1 s –1 for the catalyzed reaction. The acid catalysis is specific not general: at 90 °C the rate constants for hydrochloric acid catalysis and catalysis by ionized acetic acid are the same as the rate constant, k H = 1.4 × 10 −2 (mol/L) –1 s –1 , determined in the neutral reaction.