Microreactor assisted method for studying isocyanate–alcohol reaction kinetics

Kinetic parameters of phenyl isocyanate–monoalcohol reactions has been studied using a microreactor system. The monoalcohol components were propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol, propan-2-ol and butan-2-ol. The reactions were conducted in alcohol/THF mixed solvent under pseudo-first-order circumstances at various temperatures. The reaction mixtures were analyzed by off-line HPLC. Reaction rate constants and apparent activation energies have been determined with good precision. The reaction rate constants were higher for the primary alcohols than for the secondary alcohols. Higher apparent activation energy was found for the secondary alcohols compared to the primary ones. The applied technique provides a simple way to study the effects of various factors (e.g. structure of the isocyanate and the alcohol, temperature, solvents, concentration of reagents, catalysis) on the kinetics of the isocyanate–alcohol reactions.