Potentiometric determination of acidity constants of some Schiff bases in tetrahydrofuran-water mixtures

Using potentiometric measurements, dissociation constants of two Schiff bases, N,N′-bis(1′-hydroxy-2′-acetonaphthone)propylenediimine (L₁) and bis(1′-hydroxy-2′-acetonaphthone)-3,3′-diiminodpropaneamine (L₂) were determined in binary mixtures of tetrahydrofuran-water at 25.0 ± 0.1°C and an ionic strength of 0.100 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP). The results show that the pK _a values of these acids increases as the percentages of the tetrahydrofuran increase in solvent mixtures. There is a linear relationship between acidity constants and the mole fraction of tetrahydrofuran in the solvent mixtures. Effect of solvent composition on acidity constants is also discussed.