SOLVENT EFFECTS ON THE HYDRATION OF CYCLOHEXENE CATALYZED BY A STRONG ACID ION-EXCHANGE RESIN .2. EFFECT OF SULFOLANE ON THE REACTION-KINETICS

The kinetics of the' hydration of cyclohexene, catalyzed by a strong acid ion-exchange resin, have been studied in a packed bed reactor at temperatures between 353 and 413 K and a pressure of 20 bar. The kinetic rate constants were measured as a function of temperature and solvent composition (0-90 mol % solfolane in water). Macroporous Amberlite XE 307, a strong acid ion-exchange resin, was used as a catalyst. The influence of the solvent composition on the rate constant, which follows Arrhenius behavior, can be understood from changes in the activity coefficients of the reactant, the catalyst, and the activated complex. The decrease in rate constant between 0 and 60 mol % sulfolane is caused mainly by stabilization of cyclohexene. The observed increased rate constant above 60 mol % sulfolane is explained by an increased proton activity with increasing sulfolane content.