Abstract
The ability of inverse micelles to control the intra- vs. intermolecular character of the esterification reactions of an ω-hydroxyalkanoic acid yielding lactone and polymer, respectively, has been investigated with 15-hydroxypentadecanoic acid. Inverse micellar solutions of di-n-dodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDABr) and di-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) in benzene, with and without water pools, were used with two ionic carbodiimides, 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimide metho-p-toluenesulfonate (ATos) and 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl- carbodiimide hydrochloride (ACl), as esterification agents. Lactone was formed only with the combination of DDABr and ATos in the absence of water pools.