The kinetics of the gas-phase reaction between methanol and boron trichloride

Abstract

Using a spectroscopic complex designed for studying the kinetics of chemical reactions, the rate constant for the gas-phase reaction between a Lewis base and a Lewis acid—CH₃OH + BCl₃ → CH₃OBCl₂ + HCl—at at room temperature and pressures of 1.5–27.9 Torr has been derived for the first time. The complex comprises a reactor embedded in the optical system of a commercial AF-3 Fourier transform IR spectrometer capable of recording the spectra of reactants during the process. The reaction mechanism has been analyzed.