The solid/liquid phase transfer effect of 18-crown-6 for the potassium salts catalyzed β-hydroxyethylation of mercaptan with ethylene carbonate

Under atmospheric pressure and solvent-free conditions, β-hydroxyethyl alkyl sulfides (RSCH2CH2OH) were synthesized using crown ether as phase transfer agent, inorganic acid potassium salts (KA) as catalyst, ethylene carbonate (EC) and mercaptan (RSH) as raw materials. The solid/liquid phase transfer effect of 18-crown-6 on the β-hydroxyethylation of RSH catalyzed by KA and the effect of EC/RSH molar ratio on the selectivity of RSCH2CH2OH were systematically investigated. The results showed that 18-crown-6 itself had no catalytic activity. Compared with KA alone, the synergistic catalysis of KA with 18-crown-6 could significantly accelerate the reaction rate and the conversion of RSH was greatly increased. In the case of 0.3 mol