Applications of Triethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride

There are many different chemical compounds used by manufacturing companies for their production purposes. Compounds like triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride are used in chemical processes as phase transfer catalysts (PTC). Other than this, there are other applications of triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

Applications of Triethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride

Triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is a chemical compound that finds uses across various industries. Below are some of its applications:

Phase Transfer Catalyst

Triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is a lipophilic phase transfer catalyst. Companies using chemicals in their production process use them to catalyze polycondensation reactions that create high molecular weight polymers in a biphasic environment. A phase transfer catalyst helps a reactant move more easily from one phase to the next where the reaction takes place.

A phase-transfer catalyst enables the reaction between common organic compounds and compounds soluble in water in a heterogeneous system. Without using high-polar solvents like dimethyl formamide (DMF) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the PTC reaction still goes through in a biphasic system. The system usually consists of water and a nonpolar aprotic solvent.

A phase-transfer catalyst transports anions of inorganic salts to organic solvents and then releases them into the water phase. It is soluble in both solvents. This reaction usually takes place under mild conditions.

The procedure uses a collection of experimental techniques used to separate and purify substances before analysis of other phase-transfer catalysts, including phosphonium compounds, crown ethers, quaternary ammonium salts, et cetera.

To Activate Natural Phosphate and Hydroxyapatite

Triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is used in the activation of natural phosphate and hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite (HAp), a calcium phosphate, has morphology and composition similar to human hard tissues. When compared to other calcium phosphates, hydroxyapatite is more stable, which is an important property.

Under physiological conditions like temperature, pH, and fluid composition, hydroxyapatite is the most thermodynamically stable calcium phosphate compound. Particularly when biomaterials are involved, the production of nanomaterials has attracted significant attention for adsorption, catalysis, and optical applications.

As a biomaterial for use in prosthetic applications, nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAp) is gaining interest because it mirrors human hard tissue in terms of size, crystallography, and chemical composition. An extremely large portion of this mineral makes up the enamel on the teeth and bones. To trick the body and lower the likelihood of implant rejection, hydroxyapatite coatings are frequently applied to stainless steel implants and titanium.

Additionally, hydroxyapatite may be used to fill holes or defects in the bone. This procedure is carried out by applying the substance's powders, blocks, or beads to the affected bone areas. Furthermore, it has properties that include bioactivity, biocompatibility, non-inflammatory, non-toxicity, and many more. Due to its bioactivity, it promotes the growth of the bone and repairs the defect.

Allogeneic and xenogeneic bone grafts may not always be necessary. Typically, healing times are shortened compared to those seen when hydroxyapatite is not used. The activation of natural phosphate and hydroxyapatite using triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride ensures the possibility of bone tissue engineering, early carious lesions treatment, desensitizing agent in post-teeth bleaching, restoration of periodontal effects, and many more.

Increasing the Efficiency of Meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid Oxidation

mCPBA is a versatile peroxycarboxylic acid and a very strong oxidizing agent. When it comes in contact with inflammable material, mCPBA may cause a fire. Triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is used to increase the efficiency of mCPBA oxidation. It can explode as a pure substance when shocked or ignited by sparks.

As a result, it is offered for sale in the form of a much more stable mixture that contains about 75% mCPBA and the remaining 20% of water and 3-chlorobenzoic acid. In organic chemistry, mCPBA is frequently used as a reagent to carry out several chemical transformations. Handling it is relatively easy, which is why it is preferred to other peroxy acids.

The main applications include the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of ketones to esters, the epoxidation of alkenes, the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones, and the oxidation of amines to amine oxides. mCPBA reacts with alkenes to produce epoxides. The stereochemistry is always preserved in this reaction, which is one of its key characteristics. In other words, a trans alkene will produce a trans epoxide while a cis alkene will produce a cis-epoxide. This is a stereoselective reaction.

Similar to other peracids, MCPBA is a very strong oxidizing agent. It is available in powder form and can be stored in the refrigerator, which is one of its main advantages. However, materials like meta-chlorobenzoic with a purity greater than 75% are not commercially available. This is because the pure compound is not stable. For this reason, it is forbidden to transfer mCPBA and other similar oxidizing agents using airplanes.

To Create a Catalytic System with Antimony(V) chloride

Triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is combined with antimony(V) chloride to form a catalytic system. Catalytic systems include an activator and a deactivator along with the metal and ligand. Since the catalytic material is made up of different materials, triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is combined with antimony (v) as one of the parts.

With triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, antimony offers high catalytic activity. This and other materials like silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, or a combination of alumina and silica are made to have a large surface area that can support the catalyst washcoat.

To maximize the amount of catalytically active surface that can react with engine exhaust, washcoat materials have rough, irregular surfaces that increase surface area. This alone makes triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride an important compound in the automobile manufacturing industry.

Conclusion

Triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is a chemical compound that is used in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals. It is employed as a phase transfer catalyst to activate natural phosphate and hydroxyapatite, to improve the efficiency of meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid oxidation, and to construct a catalytic system with antimony(v) chloride.