Substituent effects on polarographic reduction of some photographic color intermediates

Abstract

Polarographic reduction of two series of benzoylacetanilides has been investigated in 40% (by volume) ethanolic Britton–Robinson buffers. One series (A) contains substituents on the anilide moiety, and the second (B) has substituents on both the anilide and benzoyl moieties. Polarographic controlled-potential electrolysis data indicate that the electroactive species in both series is the protonated form (ArCOCH2CONHAr′)H+. The reduction half-wave potentials of anilides of series A were found to be independent of the nature of the substituent, whereas those of series B show a good linear relationship when plotted vs. the σ substituent constant of the substituent on the benzoyl moiety (ρ = 0.284, r = 0.995). Values of the acid dissociation constants of the keto (K1) and enol (K2) tautomers of the anilides of series A were calculated; unlike their E1/2 values, the pK1 data show a linear correlation with the Hammett substituent constant, σ. The pK2 values show, however, little variation with σ.