The kinetics and mechanism of the electrophilic substitution of heteroaromatic compounds. Part XXXVII. The acid catalysed detritiation of benzene and naphthalene

Abstract

The exchange rates of protium for tritium in [³H]benzene, [1-³H]naphthalene, and [2-³H]naphthalene have been found over a wide range of concentrations of aqueous sulphuric acid. The results are compared with those of other workers. The rate–acidity profiles are analysed in terms of current theories regarding the A–S_E2 mechanism of hydrogen exchange. Correcting the activation parameters for the effect of temperature on H₀ values affords more acceptable values than those obtained without this correction.