Study of the reaction 2-(p-nitrophenyl)ethyl bromide+OH- in sulfobetaine aqueous micellar solutions in the presence and absence of added salts

The reaction of dehydrobromination of 2-(p-nitrophenyl)ethyl bromide with hydroxide ions has been studied in aqueous micellar solutions of N-tetradecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-lpropanesulfonate, SB3-14. The kinetic effects of added salts (NaF, NaCl, NaBr, and NaNO3) on the reaction rate in SB3-14 aqueous micellar solutions have also been studied. They were rationalized by considering the binding of the anions, which come from the salt, to the sulfobetaine micelles and their competition with the reactive hydroxide ions for the micellar surface. The equilibrium binding constant of the 2-(p-nitrophenyl)ethyl bromide to the sulfobetaine micelles Was estimated by recording the changes in the spectra of the organic substrate when the SB3-14 concentration in the micellar medium changed. This value was in agreement with that obtained from fitting of kinetic data. The second-order rate constant in the micellar pseudophase revealed that the reaction is faster in SB3-14 micelles than in water. This acceleration seems independent of the presence of added salts and can be explained by considering that SB3-14 micelles favor reactions in which charge is delocalized in the transition state. (C) 2001 Academic Press.