Potassium ethoxide, also known as potassium ethanolate, is an off-white or yellow powder with the chemical formula of C₂H₅KO. Potassium ethoxide contains an ethoxide ion, the conjugate base of ethanol, which makes these compounds strongly basic. It hydrolyzes to yield ethanol and potassium hydroxide.

Uses

Potassium ethoxide is used as a strong base, similar to sodium methoxide, sodium and potassium methoxides, and

potassium tert-butoxide Potassium ''tert''-butoxide (or potassium ''t''-butoxide) is a chemical compound with the formula CH3)3COKsub>''n'' (abbr. KOtBu). This colourless solid is a strong base (pKa of conjugate acid is 17 in H2O), which is useful in organic syn ...

. Catalytic amounts of potassium ethoxide in ethanol can be used to perform

transesterification Transesterification is the process of exchanging the organic functional group R″ of an ester with the organic group R' of an alcohol. These reactions are often catalyzed by the addition of an acid or base catalyst. Strong acids catalyze the r ...

reactions that yield ethyl esters. Sodium or potassium ethoxide is also a suitable base for the malonic ester synthesis where diethyl malonate is used, since any transesterification reaction does not result in ester scrambling.

Safety

Potassium ethoxide is stable, but also both flammable and corrosive. The compound reacts vigorously with water. If the compound comes into contact with damp air, it may lead to the heating and ignition of the solid powder. It must be kept separated from air, moisture, water, acids, oxidizing agents, and reducing agents.
n.pag. CasLAb. Web. 19 Oct 2012. . It can also cause severe skin burns.
n.pag. chemexper. Web. 19 Oct 2012. .

References

Ethoxides Potassium compounds