Synthesis of Isopropyl Chloroacetate Catalyzed by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Isopropl chloroacetate was synthesized by esterification of chloroacetic acid with isopropanol using sodium dodecyl sulfate as catalyst. Various factors affecting the esterification have been investigated. Under the condition of 1.2/1 molar ratio of isopropanol to chloroacetic acid, 1.0% catalyst (molar percent of chloroacetic acid), 2.5 h reaction time, 5 mL benzene as watercarrying agent and reflux temperature as reaction temperature, the yield of isopropyl chloroacetate reaches 97.2%. Compared with other catalysts, the catalytic activity of sodium dodecyl sulfate is almost equal to Brnsted acids, such as sodium hydrosulfate or ptoluene sulfonic acid. Its catalytic activity is greater than that of most Lewis acids. Using FTIR spetrum, it is concluded that the effect of sodium hydrosulfate,produced from sodium dodecyl sulfate hydrolysis,is essential in the catalytic esterification.