The alkaline-catalyzed transesterification of monoglycerides of butyric and pentylic acids: Gas-phase and solvent effects

► The formation of the tetrahedral intermediate is the rate determining step. ► With counter-ion the gas-phase reaction proceeds through a concerted mechanism. ► In solution the reaction proceeds through a stepwise mechanism for the EtOK attack. ► Activation free energies were basically independent of the length of the side chain.