Kinetics and mechanism of the alkaline hydrolysis of ethyl oxamate

Abstract

The kinetics of hydrolysis of ethyl oxamate in alkaline medium (0.02–1.0M-NaOH solution) were found to follow an irreversible first-order consecutive path of the type (i). Both the kinetic steps involve oxy-mono- and -di- H₂NCO·CO₂Et [graphic omitted] H₂NCO·CO₂H [graphic omitted] NH₃+ other products (i) anionic tetrahedral intermediates which control the rate-determining step in the complete hydrolytic process. The rate profiles for both steps are similar at low hydroxide ion concentrations and differ at higher concentrations. A possible mechanism and many kinetically indistinguishable elementary steps are suggested. The temperature dependence of hydrolysis was studied and activation parameters evaluated.