PROTONATION OF REAGENTS AND ACID-BASE CATALYSIS IN ACYLATION

The kinetic characteristics of the model reaction of electron transfer and the reaction of acylation of aromatic amines by aromatic acid anhydrides were investigated as a function of the concentration of acid catalyst and a correlation was established between the type of this function and the characteristics of protonation of the amines. The rate constants of the catalytic and noncatalytic flows of the forward and reverse reactions in the phthalic anhydride—p-toluidine system were determined as a function of the molarity and proton-acceptor properties of the solvent. The mechanism of acid-base catalysis was examined as a sequence of proton and electron transfer processes.