Triethoxyhexadecylsilane

Hydrolysis

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

hydrolysis

Type of information:

(Q)SAR

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

results derived from a valid (Q)SAR model, but not (completely) falling into its applicability domain, and documentation / justification is limited

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The result was obtained using an appropriate QSAR method (see attached QMRF and QPRF for details)

GLP compliance:

no

Estimation method (if used):

The result was obtained using an appropriate QSAR method (see attached QMRF and QPRF for details).

Transformation products:

yes

No.:

#1

No.:

#2

Key result

pH:

7

DT50:

58.4 h

Type:

(pseudo-)first order (= half-life)

Remarks on result:

other: 20-25°C

pH:

4

DT50:

1 h

Type:

(pseudo-)first order (= half-life)

Remarks on result:

other: 20-25°C

pH:

5

DT50:

0.9 h

Type:

(pseudo-)first order (= half-life)

Remarks on result:

other: 20-25°C

pH:

9

DT50:

0.7 h

Type:

(pseudo-)first order (= half-life)

Remarks on result:

other: 20-25°C

The result was obtained using an appropriate QSAR method (see attached QMRF and QPRF for details).

Conclusions:

A hydrolysis half life of approximately 58.4 h at 20-25 °C and pH 7 was obtained using an accepted calculation method. The result is considered to be reliable.

Description of key information

Triethoxy(hexadecyl)silane CAS 16415-13-7: half-life approx. 58.4 h at 20-25 °C and pH 7 (QSAR)

Additional information

Once released into the water phase, hydrolysis contributes significantly to the degradation of triethoxy(hexadecyl)silane (CAS 16415-13-7) at acidic and basic pH whereas slow hydrolysis is expected at neutral pH. A QSAR that was developed by Peter Fisk Associates (2014) predicts half-lives of 58.4 h at pH 7, 1.0 h at pH 4 and 0.7 h at pH 9 (20-25 °C). As the hydrolysis reaction may be acid or base catalysed, the rate of reaction is expected to be slowest at pH 7 and increase with increasing or decreasing pH. For an acid-base catalyzed reaction in buffered solution, the measured rate constant is a linear combination of terms describing contributions from the uncatalyzed reaction as well as catalysis by hydronium, hydroxide, and general acids or bases.

 

kobs= k0+ kH3O+[H3O+] + kOH-[OH-] + ka[acid] + kb[base]

At extremes of pH and under standard hydrolysis test conditions, it is reasonable to suggest that the rate of hydrolysis is dominated by either the hydronium or hydroxide catalysed mechanism. This is supported by studies for various organosilicon compounds in which calculation of kH3O+ and kOH- from the experimental results at pH 4 and 9, respectively, resulted in reasonable estimates of the half-life at pH 7.

Therefore, at low pH:

kobs≈kH3O+[H3O+]

At pH 4 [H3O+]=10-4mol dm-3 and at pH2 [H3O+]=10-2mol dm-3; therefore, kobs at pH 2 should be approximately 100 times greater than kobs at pH 4.

The half-life of a substance at pH 2 is calculated based on:

t1/2(pH 2) = t1/2(pH 4) / 100

The calculated half-life of triethoxyhexadecylsilane at pH 2 is therefore 0.01 h. However, it is likely that factors such as diffusion become rate-determining when the half-life is less than 5-10 seconds. Reaction rate increases with temperature therefore hydrolysis will be faster at physiologically relevant temperatures compared to standard laboratory conditions and the half-lives at 37.5 °C (relevant for in vivo studies) are expected to be faster than those at 20-25 °C. Under ideal conditions, hydrolysis rate can be recalculated according to the equation:

DT50(X °C) = DT50(T) x e(0.08.(T-X))

Where T = temperature for which data are available and X = target temperature.

Thus, for trimethoxyoctadecylsilane the hydrolysis half-life at 37.5 °C and pH 2 is very fast (relevant for conditions in the stomach following oral exposure) and it is not appropriate to apply any further correction for temperature to the limit value and the hydrolysis half-life is therefore less than 5 seconds.

 

The initial hydrolysis products of triethoxy(hexadecyl)silane (CAS 16415-13-7) are hexadecylsilanetriol and ethanol.