Molar Mass Distribution of Hydroxyethylated Aralkyl Alcohols

Abstract

The molar mass distribution was investigated at the hydroxyethylation of aralkyl alcohols (benzyl-, beta;-phenylethyl- and gamma;-phenylpropyl) in the presence of conventional homogeneous and a heterogeneous catalyst, K10. While the widely used NaOH and SnCl₄ catalysts gave the expected results in molar mass distribution (with base it is of Weibull-Nycander-Gold type, with the Lewis acid of Flory type), the K10 caused a narrower Flory type distribution which is effected by the length of alkyl chain in the aralkyl alcohols and by the modification of the pure K10 with metal ions (Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺). By this way with a substrate- and MMD-friend hydroxyethylation can be achieved.