Solvent effects on the reactivity of solvated electrons with organic solutes in 1-butylamine–water mixtures

Abstract

The values of the rate constants of the reactions of es− with the efficient scavengers nitrobenzene and acetone are ≥ 2 × 106 m3 mol−1 s−1 in the whole range of 1-butylamine–water mixtures at 298 K; the reaction rates in the mixed solvents vary approximately as the solvent fluidity. In pure butylamine at 298 K, k2(es− + nitrobenzene) = 84 × 106 m3 mol−1 s−1 and k2(es− + acetone) = 7.3 × 106 m3 mol−1 s−1. The values of the rate constants of the reactions of es− with the inefficient scavengers phenol and toluene are < 2 × 105 m3 mol−1 s−1 in the whole range of 1-butylamine–water mixtures at 298 K and have a maximum at 50 mol% water and a minimum at 99 mol% water. In pure 1-butylamine at 298 K, k2(es− + phenol) = 1.0 × 104 m3 mol−1 s−1 and k2(es− + toluene) = 0.28 × 104 m3 mol−1 s−1. The reaction rates with inefficient scavengers show strong dependence on the solvent composition and selective solvation of electron and scavenger. In the amine-rich region (0–30 mol% water), the rate constants increase with the increase of viscosity, indicating the chemical participation of solvent molecules in the reaction. In the water-rich region from 50 to 99 mol% water, the decrease of the rate constants indicates the nonhomogeneous solvation of the electrons by water and of the organic solutes by 1-butylamine. From 99 mol% to pure water the rate constant increases rapidly, which we attribute to insufficient 1-butylamine to coat the phenol or toluene molecules. The variation of the activation energies E2 for the efficient scavengers, 14–27 kJ mol−1, are similar to the variation of Eη in the mixed solvents. The values of E2 for the inefficient scavengers are from 15 to 38 kJ mol−1 for phenol and from 6 to 21 kJ mol−1 for toluene. Both k2 and E2 for the inefficient scavenger reactions show a correlation with the temperature coefficient −dEAmax/dT of the optical absorption of es− in the mixed solvents, but the reason is obscure. Key words: 1-butylamine–water solvent, solvated electron, organic solutes, reactivity, solvent effects.