Enhanced nucleophilic reactivity of hydroxamate ions in some novel micellar systems for the cleavage of Parathion

Abstract The reactivity of three α -nucleophiles, i.e. N -phenylbenzohydroxamate, benzohydroxamate and salicylhydroxamate ions towards cleavage of p -nitrophenyldiethyl phosphorothioate (Parathion) is considerably enhanced in the presence of cationic surfactant, i.e. cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The esterolytic properties of N -phenylbenzohydroxamate ion for parathion have also been examined in two novel surfactants, viz. cetyltriphenylphosphonium bromide and cetyldimethyl ethanol ammonium bromide. The cetyldimethyl ethanol ammonium bromide is more reactive. The rate–surfactant profiles have been fitted with pseudophase model.