The kinetics of successive addition of oxirane to alkanethiols in the presence of basic catalysts

Rate constants and activation parameters of direct reaction of oxirane with certain alkyl-2-hydroxyethyl sulfides and/or successive oxyethylene adducts in the presence of basic catalyst were studied at temperatures 323–353 K. The reactions were found to be of the first order with respect to oxirane, sulfide, and catalyst concentrations. The kinetics are consistent with a termolecular mechanism.