Kinetics of reactions of methyl α‐eleostearate with cresols

Abstract

SynopsisThe kinetics of addition reactions between methyl a-eleostearate which forms the main chain of tung oil and cresols when catalyzed by an acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, have been studied. The addition reactions, carried out with any one of the 0-, m-, and p-cresols were shown to be first order with regard to both methyl a-elmtearate and cresol concentrations. The reactions were additions of two cresol molecules to one methyl a-eleostearate molecule, and it was presumed that they proceed in the two steps given below in which the first step is rate-determining.The apparent reaction rate constants (L/mol min) were found to be 0.046 for o-cresol, 0.038 for m-cresol, and 0.033 for p-cresol. The apparent activation energies (kcal/mol) were found to be 0.95, 3.66, and 4.05, in the cases of 0-, m-, and p-cresols, respectively.