Methyl Methacrylate → Stearyl methacrylate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

300 g of methyl methacrylate (3 mole), 135 g of stearyl alcohol (0.5 mole), 4.35 g of KCN (1%) and 0.108 g of hydroquinone methyl ether (250 ppm) are added to a 1 liter round-bottomed flask. The mixture is heated to about 75° C. by conducting air through it and the methyl methacrylate/methanol-azeotrope is removed at a temperature of 65° C. at the head of the column by way of a 1 m vigreux column. The trans-esterification is completed after 3.5 hours. After cooling down of the flask, the sump is filtered to remove the potassium cyanide, and the filter residue is washed with a little methyl methacrylate. The filtrate is concentrated at 40° C. under a water jet vacuum. A white, crystalline residue of stearyl methacrylate of 162 g = 96% will result.

Provenance & Evidence