Protolytic reactions of 3,3'-dimethylnaphthidine and 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine

The dissociation constants of diprotonated 3,3'-dimethylnaphthidine (DMN) and 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine (DMB) have been determined spectrophotometrically. They are: pK(a1) = 2.62 +/- 0.03, pK(a2) = 3.33 +/- 0.09 for DMN: pK(a1) = 2.83 +/- 0.07, pK(a2) = 4.05 +/- 0.12 for DMB. The molar absorptivities (l.mole(-1).cm(-1)) of all forms of the indicators have been also determined: epsilon(B) = 1.68 x 10(4), epsilon(BH(+)) = 9.34 x 10(3), epsilon(BH(2+)(2)) = 1.80 x 10(3) at 300 nm for DMB; epsilon(B) = 7.33 x 10(3), epsilon(BH(+)) = 3.73 x 10(3), epsilon(BH(2+)(2)) = 0 at 330 nm for DMN.