A kinetic study of anion effects in the deamination of dodecylamine micelles

Abstract

The thiocyanate ion catalysed deamination of dodecylamine by nitrous acid proceeds much faster when the protonated amine exists in the form of micelles than when it is a monomer. The reaction is inhibited by added chloride, bromide, nitrate, perchlorate, and tetrafluoroborate ions. At high concentrations of thiocyanate ion the rate levels off and becomes zero order. The results fit a simple Langmuir expression, with competition of the various anions for a limited number of sites at or close to the micelle surface. Relative binding constants for the various anions have been deduced.