| Abstract: | The kinetics of the dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL)‐catalyzed urethane formation reactions of cyclohexyl isocyanate (CHI) with model monofunctional fluorinated alcohols and fluoropolyether diol Z‐DOL H‐1000 of various molecular weights (100–1084 g mol?1) in different solvents were studied. IR spectroscopy and chemical titration methods were used for measuring the rate of the total NCO disappearance at 30–60 °C. The effects of the reagents and DBTDL catalyst concentrations, the solvent and hydroxyl‐containing compound nature, and the temperature on the reaction rate and mechanism were investigated. Depending on the initial reagent concentration and solvent, the reactions could be well described by zero‐order, first‐order, second‐order, or more complex equations. The reaction mechanism, including the formation of intermediate ternary or binary complexes of reagents with the tin catalyst, could vary with the concentration and solvent and even during the reaction. The results were treated with a rate expression analogous to those used for enzymatic reactions. Under the explored conditions, the rate of the uncatalyzed reaction of fluorinated alcohols with CHI was negligible. Moreover, there was no allophanate formation, nor were there other side reactions, catalysis by urethane in the absence of DBTDL, or a synergetic effect in the presence of the tin catalyst. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3771–3795, 2002 |
