Reactivity of 6-Hexanelactam Cyclic Oligomers, 1. Acidolysis

The acidolysis of 6-hexanelactam and its cyclic dimer and trimer performed in an excess of anhydrous acetic acid at 200°C was studied. The products of the acidolysis present in the reaction mixtures were analyzed by the RP HPLC method. For the acidolysis of the cyclic substances studied, reaction schemes were suggested and, based on them, a set of kinetic equations was established. It follows from the values of the rate constants obtained by solving the set of equations that the reactivity of the cyclic trimer in the system under study is about five times higher than that of the cyclic dimer. The reactivities of the cyclic dimer and 6-hexanelactam are comparable.