Ionisation of [α-3H]acetophenone in strongly basic media

Abstract

Measurements are reported on the rates of detritiation of [α-³H]acetophenone in aqueous alkali, methanol–methoxide, ethanol–ethoxide, and t-butyl alcohol–t-butoxide solutions, as well as when dimethyl sulphoxide is introduced into these media. The ability of the base to abstract a triton increases in the order OH^– < OMe^– < OEt^– < OBu^t–, and the results are discussed in terms of the linear dependence of the logarithm of the ionisation rate constant on the acidity function, H_–, of the media.