Hydrogen bonding interaction between acrylic esters and monohydric alcohols in non-polar solvents: An FTIR study

The association between acrylic esters (methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate) and some monohydric (primary, secondary and tertiary) alcohols in non-polar solvents, viz. n-heptane, CCl4 and benzene has been investigated by means of FTIR spectroscopy. The most likely association complex between alcohol and acrylic ester is 1:1 stoichiometric complex through the hydroxyl group of alcohol and the carbonyl group of acrylic ester. The formation constant of the 1:1 complexes has been calculated using Nash method. It appears that the primary alcohols have larger formation constant than the secondary and tertiary alcohols. The results show that the proton donating power of the alcohols decreases in the order primary>secondary>tertiary and the association constant increases with the increase in carbon chain of the alkyl group of acrylic esters and alcohols. Also the results show a significant dependence of the association constant upon the solvents used. The solvent effect on the formation of hydrogen bond equilibria is discussed in terms of specific interaction between the solute and solvent.