2-Ethylhexanol → 2-Ethylhexyl 2-ethylhexanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

144 g (1 mol) of 2-ethylhexanoic acid and 143 g (1.1 mol) of 2-ethylhexanol were fed to a four-necked flask equipped with a stirrer, a thermometer and a water separator having a condenser tube, and the mixture was heated to 200° C. under reduced pressure in the presence of a tetraisopropyl titanate catalyst. Esterification reaction was carried out for about 9 hours while removing the formed water by the water separator. After the reaction, the excess 2-ethylhexanol was distilled off, and the product was neutralized with excess sodium hydroxide and then washed with water to neutrality. The product was then treated with activated carbon (0.3 wt. % relative to the starting materials fed) at 90° C., and was then filtered, giving 246 g of (2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexanoate, which was then dehydrated for 5 hours at a temperature of 100° C. and a reduced pressure of 13.3 MPa. The resulting ester had a total acid number of 0.01 mgKOH/g, a water content of 11 ppm, a kinematic viscosity of 2.7 mm2/s (40° C.) and 1.1 mm2/s (100° C.), a volume resistivity of 3.0×1013 Ω·cm, and a two-layer separation temperature of −24° C.

Provenance & Evidence