The role of added pyridine in substitution reactions of triphenylmethyl chloride in benzene solution

Abstract

A detailed kinetic investigation has been made of the specific role of pyridine when added to the methanolysis and radiochloride exchange reactions of triphenylmethyl chloride in benzene. It is concluded that neither of the two proposals in the literature, i.e. that it reacts with the alkyl halide to form a quaternary ammonium salt or that it has no effect whatever except to take up the hydrogen chloride product, is correct. The present results indicate that pyridine forms a complex with the triphenylmethyl chloride, without strong covalent bonding, which has a distinctive effect on the kinetics of the reactions.