Influence of the Polarity of the Medium on the Alkaline Hydrolysis of n-Butyl Acetate in Hydroalcoholic Mixtures

The kinetics of the alkaline hydrolysis of n-butyl acetate have been studied in water and in hydroalcoholic mixtures. The rate constants, activation energies, frequency factors, entropies, Gibbs free energies and enthalpies of activation have been determined. The radii of the activated com­ plexes have been calculated and related to their degree of solvation. A possible reaction mechanism is formulated.