Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)

Abstract In this paper, we report the reaction of isoamyl alcohol and 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene was carried out in a batch reactor under aqueous-organic biphasic conditions using the techniques like phase transfer catalysis and ultrasound irradiation. Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) was employed as the phase transfer catalyst. The reaction is greatly enhanced by adding a small quantity of phase-transfer catalyst under ultrasound (28 kHz, 300W). Detailed kinetics of the etherification was investigated. The rate constants were determined by varying the concentration of the catalyst, stirring speed, the concentration of alcohols, temperature, different solvents, concentration of sodium hydroxide, different inorganic salts and different phase transfer catalysts. From the detailed kinetic study, the optimum reaction conditions to produce higher yield of 1-(isopentyloxy)-4-nitrobenzene was obtained. The experimental data were well described by the pseudo-first-order equation. The individual experiment was carried without ultrasound; the obtained kapp value is 0.0094 min-1. The combination of ultrasound and stirring; the kapp value is 0.0178 min-1. From the observed results, the kapp value for ultrasonically promoted reaction is almost two fold higher than the normal reaction.

Abstract Ultrasound assisted phase-transfer catalyzed preparation of ethyl 2-(4-nitrophenoxy)acetate from the corresponding p-nitrophenol and ethyl 2-bromoacetate using the mild solid base, anhydrous potassium carbonate, under very mild conditions is reported. The solid-liquid reactions were performed in a batch reactor equipped with reflux condenser, and ultrasonic irradiations were introduced using an ultrasonic bath operating at a frequency of 28 kHz with a power rating of 300 W. The reaction was carried out at 50°C under pseudo-first order conditions and was monitored by gas chromatography (GC). From the experimental data, a rate expression had been developed to explain the kinetic behavior of the reaction from which the apparent rate constant (kapp) of the organic phase was attained. The effects of different operating parameters such as stirring rate, temperature, catalyst loading and kind of Phase-transfer catalysts, base variation and quantity of water, kind of solvents have been investigated to maximize the yield of synthesis of ethyl 2-(4-nitrophenoxy)acetate.