Enthalpies of solvation for N-alkylamides in water and in carbon tetrachloride at 25°C

Molar enthalpies of solution at infinite dilution have been determined at 25°C for several N-alkyl and N,N-dialkylamides in water and in carbon tetrachloride, using a Calvet-type rotating calorimeter, and solution concentrations below 5×10^–2 molal. Relevant enthalpies of transfer between the two solvents also have been derived. Molar enthalpies of solvation have been obtained by adding enthalpies of vaporization to solution values. Results are compared with those of other laboratories on other substituted amides, and their dependence on the number of carbon atoms in the chain is discussed. A possible computation of solvation enthalpies of functional groups is suggested and results for hydration of peptide or similar groups present in the compounds examined are discussed in terms of current models of their hydration and hydrogen bond formation.Presented at the sixth Italian meeting on Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis (AICAT) held in Naples, December 4–7, 1984.