R. T. Coutts, K. Midha
Aug 1, 1969
Citations
0
Influential Citations
1
Citations
Journal
Journal of pharmaceutical sciences
Abstract
The literature claim that treatment of methyl acrylate with hydrogen bromide in diethyl ether gives methyl 3-bromopropionate exclusively is shown to be erroneous. Transesterification occurs and ethyl 3-bromopropionate is also a product of the reaction. In the same way, methyl and ethyl 3-bromo-2-methylpropionate were obtained from methyl methacrylate. This transesterification reaction is of value in identifying components of mixtures of fatty esters. Thus, a mixture of six butyl esters was converted to one containing the respective ethyl esters in the same relative proportions. The presence of small quantities of impurities in a commercial mixture of cetyl stearate and cetyl palmitate was revealed, and the alcohol component and acid components (as ethyl esters) of the two major constituents were identified by GLC, rapidly and in the presence of each other.