Interaction of sodium methoxide with 4-nitropyridine N-oxide in benzene in the presence of surfactant aggregates

Abstract

The rate constant for the interaction of 4-nitropyridine N-oxide with sodium methoxide in benzene in the presence of polyoxyethylene (6) nonylphenol aggregates is 1220 and 7-fold greater than that in neat benzene or in neat methanol. Conversely, this reaction does not proceed appreciably in benzene in the presence of dodecylammonium propionate and sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl)sulphosuccinate aggregates. ¹H N.m.r. data indicate that 4-nitropyridine N-oxide interacts to differing extents with each charge type of surfactant aggregate. The rate effects and ¹H n.m.r. behaviour are discussed in terms of the interaction of both reactants with the surfactant and differential reaction rates in this media and that in the neat solvent.