Pathways in thioacetamide hydrolysis in aqueous acid: detection by kinetic analysis

Abstract

Kinetic studies of the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of thioacetamide have shown that both hydrolysis sequences (attack at sulphur followed by attack at nitrogen and vice versa) occur. The rate constants of the steps in the two competitive reactions have been determined in the temperature range 60–90° and the activation energies calculated. The relative importance of the two competitive reactions and the concentration of the intermediates are temperature dependent, but are not influenced by variation in pH in the range 1·00–2·50.