The effect of electron-withdrawing properties of substituents on the hydrolysis of some Schiff bases

The dissociation kinetics of the Schiff bases investigated in the present paper [N,N-bis(X-benzylidenes)ethylenediamine], have been examined under basic and acidic conditions, in aqueous medium 25% acetone in water (wt-wt). The base hydrolysis reaction of these compounds was found to follow second-order kinetics, first-order with respect to each of the Schiff base and the hydroxide ions. The rate-determining step is suggested to be the hydroxide ions attack on the free base. The effect of acetone ratio, in hydrolysis medium, has been studied under alkaline conditions. It is deduced that both the hydrogen bonding formation and solvent-solvent interaction have a pronounced role in such hydrolysis reactions. The acid hydrolysis reaction is strictly second-order kinetics, first-order with respect to the Schiff base and also to the hydrogen ions, and the attack of water molecules on the protonated substrate becomes the rate-determining step. A slower rate of the base hydrolysis was observed through the Schiff base II (p-NO₂), on the other hand, a fast acid hydrolysis rate was detected in the case of compound III (p-COOH). Furthermore, from the effect of temperature on the reaction rate, the various thermodynamic parameters have been also calculated and discussed.