Kinetic Study on Models of the Tetrabutqxyzirconium-Catalyzed Reaction Between α, ω -Dicarboxypolyamide-11 and α, ω -Dihydroxypolyoxyethylene

The kinetics of the tetrabutoxyzirconium-catalyzed esterifications between 11-dodecylamideundecanoic acid and 1-dodecanol, 2-tridecanol, a-dodecyl-ω-hydroxypolyoxyethylene are studied and compared to that of α, ω-dicarboxypolyamide-l 1 and α, ω-dihydroxypolyoxyethylene. The reaction with 2-tridecanol is characterized by an autoacceleration phenomenon. In the other cases the reaction rate is not greatly affected by catalyst concentration. An explanation involving the formation of catalyst condensates at the very beginning of the reaction is put forward.