Kinetics of formation of the electron donor–acceptor complex between iodine and imidazole in chlorobutane solution

Abstract

The kinetics of the formation of the electron donor–acceptor complex between iodine and imidazole in 1-chlorobutane at –64 °C have been investigated by an improved microwave temperature-jump apparatus. The forward rate constant k_f is (3.3 ± 0.4)× 10⁹ dm³ mol^–1 s^–1. This is nearly the same as the diffusion-controlled value k_D calculated from the simple Smoluchowski model for reaction at every encounter between spherical molecules, without geometrical requirements, in a homogeneous fluid (k_f/k_D= 0.8).