Steric effects in the basic hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

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Abstract
A comparative study of the reactivity of hydroxide and various alkoxide anions was made by determining percentage weight loss of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber. Regardless of the basicity of the anions, the order of reactivity was found to be hydroxide < tert‐butoxide < sec‐propoxide < methoxide < ethoxide. This observed order follows the nucleophilicity of the bases, and the relatively lower reactivity of sec‐propoxide and tert‐butoxide is assumed to be due to steric retardation during the equilibrium reactions.

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