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Kinetics and mechanism of the carbonylation of methanol to methyl formate

Journal Article · · Kinet. Catal. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5735148

The rate of carbonylation of methanol to methyl formate in methanol solutions of sodium methylate within the range 1-4 MPa and 80-110/sup 0/C obey the first-order equation with respect to the concentrations of sodium methylate, carbon monoxide, and methanol (k/sup ..-->../ = 10(/sup 7.84 +/- 0.23/) exp (-15,000 +/- 400)/RT, liters/sup 2//mole/sup 2/ x min). Under the same conditions the rate of decarbonylation of methyl formate is proportional to the concentrations of sodium methylate and methyl formate to the first power (k/sup ..-->../ = 10(/sup 13.43 +/- 0.37/) exp (-24,200 +/- 600)/RT, liter/mole x min). When methanol is replaced by a form enriched (98%) with deuterium in the hydroxyl group,the kinetic isotope effect of the reaction is equal to one. It is concluded that the charge on the C-atom of the intermediate carbanion is too low for the splitting-off of H+ from the methanol molecule, introduced into the activated complex of nucleophilic attack of CH/sub 3/O- on CO and the stabilizing carbanion.

Research Organization:
N. S. Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Moscow, USSR
OSTI ID:
5735148
Journal Information:
Kinet. Catal. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Kinet. Catal. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 27:5; ISSN KICAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English