A study of some benzeneseleninic acids; kinetics of reduction by iodide ion

Abstract

The kinetics of the redox reaction of some para- and meta-substituted benzeneseleninic acids with iodide ion in acidic aqueous ethanol are reported. The acids are reduced to diaryl diselenides with the uptake of 3 equiv. of iodide ion. The reduction is of the first order in seleninic acid, iodide, and hydrogen ion. The rate constants at 25 ± 0·1°C for the H, p-Cl, p-Br, p-NO₂, p-Me, m-Cl, m-Br, and m-NO₂ derivatives are also reported.