Hydrolysis of several substituted methyl benzoates in the aqueous solution

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0043-1354(94)00175-7

The hydrolysis of several ring substituted methyl benzoates was investigated in aqueous solution over a pH range of 3-10. Both the pH dependence (at pH5) and the variation of hydrolysis rates with ring substitution are consistent with a mechanism involving the addition of hydroxide ion to the ester carbonyl group. Extrapolation of the rate data to a pH and temperature that would be consistent with soil and groundwater (pH 8, 10 degrees C) indicate that these esters could have hydrolysis half lives from several months to several years in the environment. (Authors)