Additive effect of poly(ethylene oxide), 2. An acceleration effect of poly(ethylene oxide) in a williamson reaction

The additive effect of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in the Williamson reaction between sodium phenolate and butyl bromide was investigated. Under certain conditions a remarkable rate acceleration by PEO was observed in this reaction, which is explained by the fact that a cooperative coordination of oxygen atoms of PEO with metal cations promotes ion dissociation. The relationship between the formation of a PEO-sodium phenolate complex and the reaction rate, and also the dependency of the reaction rate on the molecular weight of PEO were examined.