An experimental study of the reactivity and relative basicity of the methoxide anion in the gas phase at room temperature, and their perturbation by methanol solvation

Abstract

Flowing afterglow measurements at 296 ± 2 K are reported which explore three aspects of the gas-phase acid–base chemistry of the methoxide anion. Firstly, the intrinsic reactivity of this ion has been determined from measurements of rate constants for solvent-free proton-transfer reactions with molecules more acidic than methanol including CH2=C=CH2, C6H5CH3, C2H5OH, C2H2, CH3CN, CH3COCH3, CH3CHO, CH3NO2, and HCN. Secondly, equilibrium constant measurements have been performed for solvent-free proton-transfer reactions which provide a gas-phase scale of acidities for these molecules relative to the acidity of methanol. Finally, rate constants were measured for the reactions of these acids with methoxide ions solvated with up to three molecules of methanol. The results establish trends in reactivity as a function of step–wise solvation when relative acidity is preserved and when a reversal occurs in the relative acidity upon solvation.