[Polleke]

Has anyone got an idea about what interactions might happen when I store a PEG solutions in demineralized water and add a bit of acids.

I am thinking about acids like: oxalate or acetate

or would they not break down peg?

(I am talking about real small amounts(0.1-1%) of the acids and a 10% PEG solution)

[HP]

PEG is easily hydrolyzed by strong acids (for ex HCl) by ether cleavage reaction. Oxalic acid is stronger than acetic acid and i am not sure if even 1% solution will not affect the PEG. But i think that with the same conc. of acetic acid theres no problem on storage the solution...

[Polleke]

PEG is easily hydrolyzed by strong acids (for ex HCl) by ether cleavage reaction. Oxalic acid is stronger than acetic acid and i am not sure if even 1% solution will not affect the PEG. But i think that with the same conc. of acetic acid theres no problem on storage the solution...

hallo HP,

thank you a lot for your answer.

One question: ether cleavage reaction , can you descibe that in short?

[agrobert]

One question: ether cleavage reaction , can you descibe that in short?

Protonation of ether oxygen to make give oxygen a +1 formal charge and a proton.  Then attack on either adjacent carbon in an SN2 fashion with the alcohol as your leaving group.  Left with an alkyl halide and a alcohol.  (of course you have the rest of your polymer units.

[Polleke]

ok thanks a lot agrobert and HP.