Electrolyte and micellar effects on the rate constants for the decomposition of Meisenheimer complexes

Abstract

The reactivity order for the decomposition of 1,1-dimethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienylide ion in the presence of electrolytes (LiClO₄ > LiCl > NaNO₃ > NaBr > NaCl > Me₄NCl > NaClO₄ > KCl > Na₂SO₄ > p-MeC₆H₄SO₃Na) arises from a smaller destabilization of the initial state than of the transition state; the significant rate retardation of micellar cationic and neutral surfactants and the absence of an effect by an anionic surfactant are discussed.