Gas-phase measurements of the influence of stepwise solvation on the kinetics of SN2 reactions of solvated F− with CH3Cl and CH3Br and of solvated Cl− with CH3Br

Abstract

Flowing afterglow measurements are reported which reveal the influence of stepwise solvation on the nucleophilicity of F− and Cl− in the gas phase at room temperature. The specific rates of nucleophilic displacement reactions with CH3Cl and CH3Br are followed for additions of up to three molecules of solvent for F− solvated with D2O, CH3OH, and C2H5OH and for Cl− solvated with CH3OH, C2H5OH, CH3COCH3, HCOOH, and CH3COOH. The observed precipitous response of the specific rate to solvation is attributed to intermediate features of plausible reaction energy profiles.