The Mechanism of Decay of the Radical HO—CH—CH2—OCOCH3 in Aqueous Solutions. A Conductometric Pulse Radiolysis Study

Abstract

From conductivity changes following a 1 µs electron pulse applied to Ν2Ο saturated H2O or D2Ο solutions of acetic acid 2-hydroxyethyl esterthe rate constants of the monomolecular decay of the radical HO-ĊH-CH2-OCOCH3 (1) in H2O and of DO-ĊH-CH2-OCOCH3 in D2O were derived, reaction (1). A value of k1 of 5.5 · 105 s-1 ± 25%, at 22 to 24°C, independent of the above solvents and of pH (or pD) was obtained. It is concluded that the rate determining step of reaction (1) is the heterolytic fragmentation of the carbon acetate bond in 1 followed by formation of H+.