Formation and properties of a catalyst based on sodium and potassium hydroxides in the reaction of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol with methyl acrylate

The nature of the cation (K⁺ or Na⁺) in hydroxides affects the temperature plot of the equilibrium constant of the reaction of KOH and NaOH with 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (ArOH) and the conversion of EII and (or) NaOH to potassium or sodium 2,6-di-tert-butyl phenoxides, which are catalysts for the alkylation of ArOH by methyl acrylate. The kinetic method for determination of the composition of the catalyst formed from NaOH and ArOH was proposed. The nature of the cation in phenoxides ArOK or ArONa is a factor determining the kinetics of the reaction of ArOH with methyl acrylate. Two different kinetic schemes were proposed to describe the transformation of ArOH in the presence of ArONa or ArOK.