NMR kinetic study of ethyl silicate hydrolysis by ammonia in alcoholic solvents

Hydrolysis of Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 by ammonia has been investigated using 1 H and 13 C NMR measurements in alcoholic media. Use of deuterated CD 3 CD 2 OD and CD 3 OD solvents proves the absence of transesterification by alkoxy exchange between silicate and alcohols. The rate constant increases when CD 3 OD replaces CD 3 CD 2 OD as the solvent (k = 2.8 × 10 −3 L mol −1 min −1 in CD 3 CD 2 OD; 7.5 × 10 −3 L mol −1 min −1 in CD 3 OD for similar experiments).