NMR kinetic study of ethyl silicate hydrolysis by ammonia in alcoholic solvents

Hydrolysis of Si(OC2H5)4 by ammonia has been investigated using 1H and 13C NMR measurements in alcoholic media. Use of deuterated CD3CD2OD and CD3OD solvents proves the absence of transesterification by alkoxy exchange between silicate and alcohols. The rate constant increases when CD3OD replaces CD3CD2OD as the solvent (k = 2.8 × 10−3 L mol−1 min−1 in CD3CD2OD; 7.5 × 10−3 L mol−1 min−1 in CD3OD for similar experiments).