Catalytic Effect of Triethylamine on the Urethane Reaction of Asymmetry Diol
The urethane reaction kinetics of 1,2-propanediol and 1,3-butanediol with phenyl isocyanate are investigated in toluene. In-situ FT-IR is used to monitor the reaction to work out rate constant. The urethane reaction has been found to be a second order reaction and is largely accelerated with triethylamine as catalyst. Furthermore, the rate constants are different between initial stage and final stage when triethylamine is used as catalyst, which belongs to different hydroxyls in asymmetry diol. However, when there is no catalyst in the reaction system, the rate constant is the same. That is, there is no reactivity difference for hydroxyls in asymmetry diol. Moreover, 1,3-butanediol is more active than 1,2-propanediol when reacting with isocyanate.