SN2 Mechanism of Cationic Micelles on the Hydrolysis of Bis-p-Methoxyphenyl Phosphate Ester

Abstract

Hydrolysis of bis-p-methoxyphenyl phosphate ester (bis-p-MPPE) was studied in micellar solutions of cityltrimethylammoniumbromide n-C16H33N+(CH3)3Br- (CTABr) at pH-9.0. The hydrolysis followed first order kinetics with respect to bis-p-MPPE concentration. At the concentration of critical micelle concentration (CMC) the rate of hydrolysis increased with increasing CTABr concentration. Surfactant with cationic or polar head group form micelles in water with hydrocarbon like interior or polar groups at the surface and bind cationic solute. The binding constant of micelle for bis-p-MPPE and the rate constant in micellar pseudo phase were determined from kinetic data using the pseudophase model.