Enthalpies of formation of methoxybenzoic acids and their dependence on structure

The energy of combustion of 2,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid has been determined using a static bomb calorimeter. The vapor pressures of the compound have been measured over a 18 K temperature interval by the Knudsen effusion technique. Heat capacity measurements betweenT=270 K andT=338 K were carried out by DSC. From these experimental results the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, sublimation, and formation in the crystalline and gaseous state at the temperature 298.15 K have been derived. With this compound, the series of mono- and dimethoxy-benzoic acids have been completed. Their_f H_m^o values were expressed by an additive relationship, taking into account the number of methoxy groups and the number of all 1,2 interactions: an accuracy of 3.3 kJ·mol^–1 was achieved. In an alternative approach the substituent effect of the methoxy groups was evaluated within the framework of isodesmic reactions. The effect of disubstitution was referred to mono derivatives and the excess energy—the so-called buttressing effect—was evaluated (2–24 kJ· mol^–1 for individual bis derivatives). These values were explained in terms of the conformation of the methoxy group around the C_ar-O bond.