Prediction of esterification rate constants for secondary alkan-2-ols based on one- and two-parameter Taft equations

Equilibrium constants and reaction rate constants for the esterification of secondary alkan-2-ols with acetic acid were measured at 60°C in 1,4-dioxane. Taft coefficients, as single parameter (without inductive effects), and two-parameter correlation (including inductive and steric effects), of the measurements were used for the prediction of esterification rate constants for secondary alkan-2-ols with monocarboxylic acids. For this prediction, previously observed results of linear correlation of rate constants for the esterification of propan-1-ol with monocarboxylic acids measured under identical experimental conditions were applied. Two parameter Taft equations for the correlation of secondary alkan-2-ols and for monocarboxylic acids were combined, resulting in an overall correlation equation usable for the prediction of reaction rates for secondary alkan-2-ols with any monocarboxylic acid. This equation was experimentally verified for the esterification of three randomly chosen alkan-2-ols with three randomly chosen monocarboxylic acids.