The kinetics and mechanism of the acid and alkaline hydrolyses of some perbenzoic acids

Abstract

The rates of hydrolysis of some ring substituted perbenzoic acids have been measured in both acidic and alkaline solutions. The results are consistent with a bimolecular mechanism involving nucleophilic attack of water and hydroxide ion at the carbonyl carbon atom of the peroxide. Measurements performed in the presence of acetic acid–acetate ion buffers gave evidence for the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate.