Catalysis by hydrogen chloride in the gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol

A homogeneous, molecular, gas‐phase elimination kinetics of 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol and 3‐methyl‐1‐ buten‐3‐ol catalyzed by hydrogen chloride in the temperature range 325–386 °C and pressure range 34–149 torr are described. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius equations: for 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.01 ± 0.31) ? (109.5 ± 2.8) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1 and for 3‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐ol log k₁ (s^?1) = (11.50 ± 0.18) ? (116.5 ± 1.4) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. Electron delocalization of the CH₂?CH and C₆H₅ appears to be an important effect in the rate enhancement of acid catalyzed tertiary alcohols in the gas phase. A concerted six‐member cyclic transition state type of mechanism appears to be, as described before, a rational interpretation for the dehydration process of these substrates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of gas‐phase decarbonylation of α‐methyl‐trans‐cinamaldehyde and E‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal under homogeneous catalysis of hydrogen chloride

The kinetics of the gas‐phase elimination of α‐methyl‐trans‐cinamaldehyde catalyzed by HCl in the temperature range of 399.0–438.7 °C, and the pressure range of 38–165 Torr is a homogeneous, molecular, pseudo first‐order process and undergoing a parallel reaction to produce via (A) α‐methylstyrene and CO gas and via (B) β‐methylstyrene and CO gas. The decomposition of substrate E‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal was performed in the temperature range of 370.0–410.0 °C and the pressure range of 44–150 Torr also undergoing a molecular, pseudo first‐order reaction gives E‐2‐pentene and CO gas. These reactions were carried out in a static system seasoned reactions vessels and in the presence of toluene free radical inhibitor. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius expressions:

• Products formation from α‐methyl‐trans‐cinamaldehyde
• α‐methylstyrene :
• β‐methylstyrene :
• Products formation from E‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal
• E‐2‐pentene :

The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the thermal decomposition of α‐methyl‐trans‐cinamaldehyde suggest that via (A) proceeds through a bicyclic transition state type of mechanism to yield α‐methylstyrene and carbon monoxide, whereas via (B) through a five‐membered cyclic transition state to give β‐methylstyrene and carbon monoxide. However, the elimination of E‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal occurs by way of a concerted cyclic five‐membered transition state mechanism producing E‐2‐pentene and carbon monoxide. The present results support that uncatalyzed α‐β‐unsaturated aldehydes decarbonylate through a three‐membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental and theoretical FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectroscopic analysis of N1‐methyl‐2‐chloroaniline

In this work, the experimental and theoretical vibrational spectra of N1‐methyl‐2‐chloroaniline (C₇H₈NCl) were studied. FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectra of the title molecule in the liquid phase were recorded in the region 4000–400 cm^?1 and 3500–50 cm^?1, respectively. The structural and spectroscopic data of the molecule in the ground state were calculated by using density functional method (B3LYP) with the 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set. The vibrational frequencies were calculated and scaled values were compared with experimental FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectra. The observed and calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement. The complete assignments were performed on the basis of the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method. ¹³C and ¹H NMR chemical shifts results were compared with the experimental values. The optimized geometric parameters (bond lengths and bond angles) were given and are in agreement with the corresponding experimental values of aniline and p‐methyl aniline. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal structures of 3‐methyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone and three substituted derivatives

3‐Methyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone and three derivatives (3,7‐dimethyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone, 3‐methyl‐6,7‐dichloro‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone and 3‐methyl‐7‐nitro‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone) have been synthesised and analysed by ¹H NMR and IR spectral spectroscopies. The crystal structures have been determined at room temperature from X‐ray single crystal diffraction data for three of them and from powder diffraction data for the nitro derivative. 3‐Methyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone crystallises in the P2₁/c monoclinic system, 3,7‐dimethyl‐2(1H)‐quinoxalinone in the Pbca orthorhombic system and the two others compounds in the P$\overline {1} $ triclinic system. For the nitro derivative, C? H$\cdots $ N short contacts are established between the carbon of the methyl and the double bounded nitrogen of the ring. For the three other compounds N? H$\cdots $ O hydrogen bonds involve the atoms of the heterocyclic ring. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of benzo‐annelation on intermolecular hydrogen bond and proton transfer of 2‐methyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4(1H)‐quinolone in methanol: A TD‐DFT study

Excited‐state intermolecular or intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction has important potential applications in biological probes. In this paper, the effect of benzo‐annelation on intermolecular hydrogen bond and proton transfer reaction of the 2‐methyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4(1H)‐quinolone (MQ) dye in methanol solvent is investigated by the density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory approaches. Both the primary structure parameters and infrared vibrational spectra analysis of MQ and its benzo‐analogue 2‐methyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4(1H)‐benzo‐quinolone (MBQ) show that the intermolecular hydrogen bond O₁―H₂?O₃ significantly strengthens in the excited state, whereas another intermolecular hydrogen bond O₃―H₄?O₅ weakens slightly. Simulated electron absorption and fluorescence spectra are agreement with the experimental data. The noncovalent interaction analysis displays that the intermolecular hydrogen bonds of MQ are obviously stronger than that of MBQ. Additionally, the energy profile analysis via the proton transfer reaction pathway illustrates that the ESIPT reaction of MBQ is relatively harder than that of MQ. Therefore, the effect of benzo‐annelation of the MQ dye weakens the intermolecular hydrogen bond and relatively inhibits the proton transfer reaction.     

Synthesis and structural study of 2′‐ and 2′,6′‐positioned methyl‐ and nitro‐substituted 3‐(arylhydrazono)pentane‐2,4‐diones

A systematic series of ortho‐methyl‐ and nitro‐substituted arylhydrazones 2–6 formed by Japp–Klingemann reaction between pentane‐2,4‐dione and the respective aryldiazonium salts have been synthesized and studied by X‐ray crystal structure analysis, with added quantum chemical calculations. The optimized molecular geometries based on DFT calculations, enabling determination of relevant rotational barriers, and the calculated bond and ring critical points, using the method of ‘atoms in molecules’, were found to correspond with the experimental data, involving specific molecular conformations and hydrogen‐bonded ring structure dependent on the ortho‐substitution, thus making possible reliable structural prediction of this compound class. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computer simulations and analysis of structural and energetic features of crystalline cage energetic compound: 2, 4, 6, 8, 12‐pentanitro‐10‐(3, 5, 6‐trinitro (2‐pyridyl))‐2, 4, 6, 8, 12‐hexaazatetracyclo [5.5.0.03,11.05,9]dodecane

First principles molecular orbital and plane‐wave ab initio calculations have been used to investigate the structural and energetic properties of a new cage compound 2, 4, 6, 8, 12‐pentanitro‐10‐(3, 5, 6‐trinitro (2‐pyridyl))‐2, 4, 6, 8, 12‐hexaazatetracyclo [5.5.0.0^3,11.0^5,9]dodecane (PNTNPHATCD) in both the gas and solid phases. The molecular orbital calculations using the density functional theory methods at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level indicate that both the heat of formation and strain energy of PNTNPHATCD are larger than those of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12‐hexanitro‐2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12‐hexaazatetracyclo [5.5.0.0.0] dodecane (CL‐20). The infrared spectra and the thermodynamic property in gas phase were predicted and discussed. The calculated detonation characteristics of PNTNPHATCD estimated using the Kamlet–Jacobs equation equally matched with those of CL‐20. Bond‐breaking results on the basis of natural bond orbital analysis imply that C–C bond in cage skeleton, C–N bond in pyridine, and N–NO₂ bond in the side chain of cage may be the trigger bonds in the pyrolysis. The structural properties of PNTNPHATCD crystal have been studied by a plane‐wave density functional theory method in the framework of the generalized gradient approximation. The crystal packing predicted using the Condensed‐phase Optimized Molecular Potentials for Atomistic Simulation Studies (COMPASS) force fields belongs to the Pbca space group, with the lattice parameters a = 20.87 Å, b = 24.95 Å, c = 7.48 Å, and Z = 8, respectively. The results of the band gap and density of state suggest that the N–NO₂ bond in PNTNPHATCD may be the initial breaking bond in the pyrolysis step. As the temperature increases, the heat capacity, enthalpy, and entropy of PNTNPHATCD crystal all increase, whereas the free energy decreases. Considering that the cage compound has the better detonation performances and stability, it may be a superior high energy density compound. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Energetic and structural characterization of 2‐R‐3‐methylquinoxaline‐1,4‐dioxides (R = benzoyl or tert‐butoxycarbonyl): experimental and computational studies

The gaseous standard molar enthalpies of formation of two 2‐R‐3‐methylquinoxaline‐1,4‐dioxides (R = benzoyl or tert‐butoxycarbonyl), at T = 298.15 K, were derived using the values for the enthalpies of formation of the compounds in the condensed phase, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry, and for the enthalpies of sublimation, measured by Knudsen effusion, using a quartz crystal oscillator. The three dimensional structure of 2‐tert‐butoxycarbonyl‐3‐methylquinoxaline‐1,4‐dioxide has been obtained by X‐ray crystallography showing that the two N? O bond lengths in this compound are identical. The experimentally determined geometry in the crystal is similar to that obtained in the gas‐phase after computations performed at the B3LYP/6‐311 + G(2d,2p) level of theory. The experimental and computational results reported allow to extend the discussion about the influence of the molecular structure on the dissociation enthalpy of the N? O bonds for quinoxaline 1,4‐dioxide derivatives. As found previously, similar N? O bond lengths in quinoxaline‐1,4‐dioxide compounds are not linked with N? O bonds having the same strength. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrogen bonding and excited state properties of the photoexcited hydrogen‐bonded (E)‐S‐(2‐aminopropyl) 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enethioate complexes

The time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method has been performed to investigate the excited state and hydrogen bonding dynamics of a series of photoinduced hydrogen‐bonded complexes formed by (E)‐S‐(2‐aminopropyl) 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enethioate with water molecules in vacuum. The ground state geometric optimizations and electronic transition energies as well as corresponding oscillator strengths of the low‐lying electronic excited states of the (E)‐S‐(2‐aminopropyl) 3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enethioate monomer and its hydrogen‐bonded complexes O₁‐H₂O, O₂‐H₂O, and O₁O₂‐(H₂O)₂ were calculated by the density functional theory and TDDFT methods, respectively. It is found that in the excited states S₁ and S₂, the intermolecular hydrogen bond formed with carbonyl oxygen is strengthened and induces an excitation energy redshift, whereas the hydrogen bond formed with phenolate oxygen is weakened and results in an excitation energy blueshift. This can be confirmed based on the excited state geometric optimizations by the TDDFT method. Furthermore, the frontier molecular orbital analysis reveals that the states with the maximum oscillator strength are mainly contributed by the orbital transition from the highest occupied molecular orbital to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. These states are of locally excited character, and they correspond to single‐bond isomerization while the double bond remains unchanged in vacuum.     

A computational study of the thermolysis of β‐hydroxy ketones in gas phase and in m‐xylene solution

Theoretical calculations at the M05‐2X/6‐31+G(d) level of theory have been carried out in order to explore the nature of the mechanism of the thermal decomposition reactions of the β‐hydroxy ketones, 4‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone, 4‐hydroxy‐2‐pentanone, and 4‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐2‐pentanone in gas phase and in m‐xylene solution. The mechanism proposed is a one‐step process proceeding through a six‐membered cyclic transition state. A reasonable agreement between experimental and calculated activation parameters and rate constants has been obtained, the tertiary : secondary : primary alcohol rate constant ratio being calculated, at T = 503.15 K, as 5.9:4.7:1.0 in m‐xylene solution and 44.1:5.0:1.0 in the gas phase, compared with the experimental values, 3.7:1.3:1.0 and 13.5:3.2:1.0, respectively. The progress of the thermal decomposition reactions of β‐hydroxy ketones has been followed by means of the Wiberg bond indices. The lengthening of the O₁–C₂ bond with the initial migration of the H₆ atom from O₅ to O₁ can be seen as the driving force for the studied reactions. Calculated synchronicity values indicate that the mechanisms correspond to concerted and highly synchronous processes. The transition states are “advanced”, nearer to the products than to the reactants. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and vibrational study of 2‐(2′‐ furyl)‐4,5‐1H‐dihydroimidazole

In this study 2‐(2′‐furyl)‐4,5‐1H‐dihydroimidazole (1) was prepared and then characterized by infrared, Raman, and multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The crystal and molecular structures of 1 were determined by X‐ray diffraction methods. The density functional theory (DFT) and second‐order Møller–Plesset theory (MP2) with Pople's basis set show that there are two conformers for the title molecule that have been theoretically determined in the gas phase, and that only one of them, conformer I, is present in the solid phase. NMR spectra observed for 1 were successfully compared with the calculated chemical shifts at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level theorized for this conformer. The harmonic vibrational frequencies for the optimized geometry of the latter conformer were calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level in the approximation of the isolated molecule. For a complete assignment of the IR and Raman spectra in the solid phase of 1 , DFT calculations were combined with Pulay´s scaled quantum mechanics force field (SQMFF) methodology to fit the theoretical frequency values to the experimental ones. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vibrational spectroscopic studies and computational study of methyl(2‐methyl‐4,6–dinitrophenylsulfanyl)ethanoate

FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectra of methyl(2‐methyl‐4,6–dinitrophenylsulfanyl)ethanoate (MDIE) were recorded and analyzed. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra were recorded in silver colloid and silver electrode. The vibrational wavenumbers were computed using HF/6‐31G* and B3LYP/6‐31G* basis. The data obtained from vibrational wavenumber calculations are used to assign vibrational bands obtained in infrared and Raman spectroscopies as well as in SERS of the studied molecule. The first hyperpolarizability and infrared intensities are reported. The geometrical parameters of the title compound are in agreement with the reported similar derivatives. The presence of new bands at 1045 and 948 cm⁻¹ in the SERS spectrum in silver electrode is related to the change in orientation of the molecule with respect to the metal surface. In silver colloid SERS spectrum, the methyl group attached to the methoxy carbonyl group is close to the metal surface, whereas on silver electrode the methyl group attached to the phenyl ring is close to the metal surface. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nitrosonium complexes of 2,11‐dithia‐5,6,8,9‐tetramethyl[32](1,4)cyclophane: a combined experimental and theoretical study

¹H and ¹³C NMR studies and quantum chemical calculations show the interaction between 2,11‐dithia‐5,6,8,9‐tetramethyl[3₂](1,4)cyclophane and nitrosonium cation to result in the formation of π‐ and n‐complexes. According to DFT/B3LYP/6‐31G(2d,p) calculations, formation of nitrosonium complexes is a strongly exothermic process both in gas phase and in SO₂. Affinity of single‐charged complexes to NO⁺ is usually larger than that of double‐charged and triple‐charged complexes, affinity of all the charged complexes to nitrosonium cation in SO₂ being larger than that in gas phase. The π‐complex with nitrosonium cation coordinated to the methylated aromatic ring is the most stable with structural characteristics being close to those obtained by X‐ray diffraction for nitrosonium π‐complexes of hexamethylbenzene and other arenes. The N―O bond lengths in all the complexes are quite close to each other and larger than that in NO⁺ cation. The S―N bond length increases upon transition from single‐charged to double‐charged and polycharged complexes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Computational study of the proton affinity and basicity of structurally diverse α1‐adrenoceptor ligands

The α₁‐adrenoceptor is a target for the treatment of several conditions from hypertension to benign prostatic hyperplasia. In this paper, we describe a new analysis approach to explore the conformational space of several ligands of the α₁‐adrenoceptor and we also present the calculation of their proton affinity and basicity. For each compound a conformational search followed by a semi‐empirical optimisation was performed and a selection of conformations for each ligand was subjected to further optimisation using density functional theory methods. Different positions were explored to determine the favoured site of protonation, and then, the proton affinity (in the gas phase) and basicity (using the polarisable continuum model for the aqueous solution) were calculated for each of them. In addition, an alternative method using one explicit water molecule in combination with the polarisable continuum model for aqueous solvent was explored. Moreover, the acid dissociation constant (pK_a) in water of these 26 compounds was calculated because this is an important parameter for a ligand when binding to its receptor. The experimental pK_a values of six of these ligands and those of two compounds with a very low and a very large pK_a were used to validate the theoretical methodology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the structure of 3‐acetylamino‐5‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole and on the fully degenerate rearrangements (FDR) of its anion: a stimulating comparison between the results of ‘in‐silicon chemistry’ and ‘laboratory chemistry’

An accurate crystal structure determination has provided evidence for a planar conformation for 3‐acetylamino‐5‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole ( 5 ), in agreement with quantum‐mechanical calculations in the gas phase. In the crystal, a series of strong intermolecular N7H7^….O9 hydrogen bonds link the amido groups of different molecules, causing the formation of infinite parallel ordered chains. The effect of the DMSO solvent on the energy and charge distribution of compound 5 and on its relevant 5 ^? anion, involved in a fully degenerate rearrangement (FDR), has been deepened by quantum‐mechanical DFT calculations. The calculated energy barrier for the FDR increases in going from in vacuo to DMSO, in agreement with previsions based on the Hughes and Ingold rules concerning the nucleophilic substitution of an anionic reagent (the deprotonated amido group in the side chain) on a neutral substrate (the 1,2,4‐oxadiazole ring). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrolysis and retro‐aldol cleavage of ethyl threo‐2‐(1‐adamantyl)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate: competing reactions

The hydrolysis of ethyl threo‐2‐(1‐adamantyl)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate ( 1 ) and the parent ester ethyl 3‐hydroxybutyrate ( 4 ) has been studied experimentally and computationally. In the hydrolysis of threo‐ester 1 with 2 M NaOH, predominantly retro‐aldol product was observed, whereas the hydrolyzed product was present in a minor amount. When the reaction is carried out under the same conditions with the parent ester ethyl 3‐hydroxybutyrate ( 4 ), hydrolyzed product is exclusively observed. The competitive pathways, namely hydrolysis and the retro‐aldol reaction for 1 and 4 were investigated using DFT calculations in the both gas and solvent phase. The calculated results in the solvent phase at B3LYP/6–31 + G* level revealed that the formation of retro‐aldol products is kinetically preferred over the hydrolysis of threo‐ester 1 in the presence of a base. However, the parent ester 4 showed that the retro‐aldol process is less favored than the hydrolysis process under similar conditions. The steric effect imposed by the bulky adamantyl group to enhance the activation barriers for the hydrolysis of the ethyl threo‐2‐(1‐adamantyl)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate ( 1 ) was further supported by the calculations performed with tert‐butyl group at the α‐carbon atom of ethyl 3‐hydroxybutyrate ( 7 ). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Insights into unusual stability of 5‐membered‐ring endocyclic benzyl carbocations in aqueous solution

The acyclic o‐oxygen benzyl carbocation 1 , the 6‐membered‐ring endocyclic o‐oxygen benzyl carbocation 2 , and the 5‐membered‐ring endocyclic o‐oxygen benzyl carbocation 3 were used as model compounds to get insights into the general phenomenon for the unusual stability of the 5‐membered‐ring endocyclic benzyl carbocations in aqueous solution. The hydride‐ion affinities of 1 , 2 , and 3 in gas phase, acetonitrile, and DMSO were calculated and compared by the density functional theory method, and 3 isodesmic reactions were designed to confirm their thermodynamic stability. What we found is that the 5‐membered‐ring endocyclic o‐oxygen stabilizes the benzyl carbocation 3 less than the acyclic o‐oxygen stabilizes the benzyl carbocation 1 in gas phase because of ring strain and through‐bond induction. However, the high solvation energies of the 5‐membered‐ring endocyclic o‐oxygen benzyl carbocation 3 not only offset the destabilizing effects of ring strain and through‐bond induction but also make it even more stable than the acyclic o‐oxygen benzyl carbocation 1 in polar solvents like acetonitrile, DMSO, and water.     

Molecular structure and vibrational spectra of 3 (or 4 or 6)‐methyl‐5‐nitro‐2‐pyridinethiones: FT‐IR,FT‐Raman and DFT quantum chemical calculations

IR and Raman spectra (RS) of polycrystalline 3‐(or 4 or 6)‐methyl‐5‐nitro‐2‐pyridinethione have been measured and analyzed by means of density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculations. The B3LYP/6‐311G(2d,2p) approach has been applied for both the thiol and thione tautomers due to the possibility of the formation of these two thiole forms. Molecular structures of these compounds have been optimized starting from different molecular geometries of the thiol group and thione group. Two conformations of the 2‐mercaptopyridine, trans and cis, have been taken into account. It was shown that the studied compounds appear in the solid state in the thione form. The effect of the hydrogen‐bond formation in the studied compounds has been considered. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and vibrational analyses of 2‐(2‐benzofuranyl)‐2‐imidazoline

We have studied 2‐(2‐benzofuranyl)‐2‐imidazoline (BFI) and characterized it by using infrared and Raman spectroscopies. The density functional theory (DFT) method together with Pople's basis set shows that two conformers exist for the title molecule as have been theoretically determined in the gas phase and that, probably, an average of both conformations is present in the solid phase. The harmonic vibrational wavenumbers for the optimized geometry of the latter conformer were calculated at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level in the proximity of the isolated molecule. For a complete assignment of the IR and Raman spectra in the compound in the solid phase, DFT calculations were combined with Pulay's scaled quantum mechanics force field (SQMFF) methodology in order to fit the theoretical wavenumbers to the experimental ones. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of solubility of gases and vapours in wet and dry alcohols,especially octan‐1‐ol

Equations for the solubility of gases and vapours into dry alcohols from methanol to decan‐1‐ol and into water‐saturated alcohols from butan‐1‐ol to decan‐1‐ol have been compared through the use of the Abraham solvation equation. It is shown that there are noticeable differences in solvation into the dry and wet alcohols, and that these differences become larger as the alcohols become smaller and take up more water. The two main factors that lead to the differences in solvation are the solute hydrogen‐bond basicity, B, and solute size, L. Increase in solute hydrogen‐bond basicity favours the wet alcohols and increase in solute size favours the dry alcohols. Solute hydrogen‐bond acidity plays no part, because the hydrogen‐bond basicity of water, wet alcohols and dry alcohols is almost the same. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.