Kinetics of methoxy-NNO-Azoxymethane hydrolysis in strong acids

ISSN： 0023-1584

Source： Kinetics and Catalysis, Vol.52, Iss.1, 2011-02, pp. : 17-25

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

The kinetics of methoxy-NNO-azoxymethane (I) hydrolysis in concentrated solutions of strong acids (HBr, HCl, HClO₄, and H₂SO₄) has been investigated by a manometric method. The gas evolution rate is described by the equation corresponding to two consecutive first-order reactions, with the rate constant of the second reaction considerably exceeding the rate constant of the first reaction, i.e., k ₂ {ie17-1} k ₁. The temperature dependences of k ₁ (s⁻¹) in 47.59% HBr in the temperature range from 60 to 90°C and in 64.16% H₂SO₄ between 80 and 130°C are described by Arrhenius equations with IogA= 12.7 ± 1.5 and 13.6 ± 1.4 and E _a = 115 ± 10 and 137 ± 10 kJ/mol, respectively. The parameters of the Arrhenius equation for the rate constant k ₂ for the reaction in 64.16% H₂SO₄ between 80 and 130°C are IogA= 9.1 ± 2.5 and E _a = 91 ± 18 kJ/mol. An analysis of the UV spectra of compound I in concentrated H₂SO₄ shows that I is a weak base . The rate-determining step of the hydrolysis of I is the attack of the nucleophile on the carbon atom of the MeO group of the protonated molecule of I. The resulting methyldiazene dioxide decomposes via a complicated mechanism to evolve N₂, NO, and N₂O. The pseudo-first-order rate constant k ₁ of the reaction at 80°C depends strongly on the acid concentration and on the type of nucleophile (Br⁻, Cl⁻, or H₂O). The relationship between k ₁ and the rate constant k of the bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction (S_N2) is given by the linear equation log , where and C _Nu are the concentrations of H+ and nucleophile, respectively; X ₀ is the excess acidity; and m ^≠ and m* are coefficients. The Swain-Scott equation log , where n is the nucleophilicity factor and s is the substrate constant (s = 0.72), is applicable to the rate constants k of the S_N2 reactions of the protonated molecule of I with Br⁻, Cl⁻, and H₂O.