I. The Rate of Hydration of beta-Methylcrotonaldehyde; the Equilibrium between beta-Methylcrotonaldehyde and beta-Hydroxyisovaleraldehyde in Dilute Aqueous Solution. II. Esters of Alginic Acid. III. Oxidation of Alginic Acid by Periodic Acid. IV. A Chromatographic Study of Lignite

Citation

Stewart, William Thomas (1941) I. The Rate of Hydration of beta-Methylcrotonaldehyde; the Equilibrium between beta-Methylcrotonaldehyde and beta-Hydroxyisovaleraldehyde in Dilute Aqueous Solution. II. Esters of Alginic Acid. III. Oxidation of Alginic Acid by Periodic Acid. IV. A Chromatographic Study of Lignite. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/hjh4-g938. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:03042025-233656031

Abstract

This study is one of a series^1,2,3,4,5 undertaken to determine the effect of various substituents on the heat of hydration of the ethylenic double bond. Data have been collected in an endeavor to correlate structural effects with hydration and dehydration reaction velocities, activation energies and heats of hydration.

Since the heats of hydration of crotonaldehyde³, crotonic acid⁴ and β-methylcrotonic acid⁵ have been determined, it was desirable to study the hydration of β-methylcrotonaldehyde and its equilibrium with β-hydroxyisovaleraldehyde. No reference has been found regarding the hydration of β-methylcrotonaldehyde nor has the hydrated compound, β-hydroxyisovaleraldehyde, been reported in the literature.

The heat of hydration was conveniently determined from equilibria between the hydrated and dehydrated compounds in dilute aqueous nitric acid at several different temperatures. Activation energies were obtained from the equilibrium and kinetic constants of the hydration and dehydration reactions.

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