The reactivity of p-nitrophenyl esters with surfactants in apolar solvents. V. p-Nitrophenyl acetate in benzene solutions of butane-1,4-diamine bis(dodecanoate)

Abstract

The rate of decomposition of p-nitrophenyl acetate in benzene in the presence of butane-1,4-diamine bis(dodecanoate) (budb) has been measured at temperatures between 333 and 353 K. The data fit a rate equation which consists of a term arising from micellar catalysis and a term arising from a bimolecular reaction between the ester and the components of budb. Arrhenius parameters have been estimated for the two reaction modes and compared with newly extended data for the similar reaction with dodecylammonium propionate (dap). 13C n.m.r. analysis of the products from there action of p-nitrophenyl propionate in the presence of dap has revealed that the amide is formed by an aminolysis reaction. The decrease in reaction rate observed with increasing water concentration is interpreted in terms of a biphasic water environment.