Effect of electron-withdrawing power of the substituted group on•OH radical reaction with substituted aryl sulphides: A pulse radiolysis study

Abstract

In neutral aqueous solution of (phenylthio)acetic acid, hydroxyl radical is observed to react with a bimolecular rate constant of 7.2 × 10-1 dm3 mol−s− and the transient absorption bands are assigned to•OH radical addition to benzene and sulphur with a rough estimated values of 50 and 40% respectively. The reaction of the•OH radical with diphenyl sulphide (k = 4.3 × 108 dm3 mol−1 s−1) is observed to take place with formation of solute radical cation, OH-adduct at sulphur and benzene with estimated values of about 12, 28 and 60% respectively. The transient absorption bands observed on reaction of•OH radical, in neutral aqueous solution of 4-(methylthio)phenyl acetic acid, are assigned to solute radical cation (λmax = 550 and 730 nm), OH-adduct at sulphur (λmax = 360 nm) and addition at benzene ring (λmax = 320 nm). The fraction of•OH radical reacting to form solute radical cation is observed to depend on the electron-withdrawing power of substituted group. In acidic solutions, depending on the concentration of acid and electron-withdrawing power, solute radical cation is the only transient species formed on reaction of•OH radical with the sulphides studied.