Self-assembly does not account for the hydrophobic effect

Marmur has claimed that large values of activity coefficients for nonelectrolytes, particularly in the context of hydrophobic interactions between solutes in aqueous solution at ambient temperature and pressure, cannot be accounted for by thermodynamics, and has suggested that association (self-assembly) of solute molecules in solution solves this dilemma. We show that the analysis of Marmur is incorrect, specifically because the equilibrium in solution between monomeric solute molecules and associated solute molecules is entirely ignored. We show further that activity coefficients such as that for nitromethane solute in hexane solvent, 39.7, and that for solute hexane in solvent water, 4.48 x 10(5), can be calculated as 31.9 and 4.71 x 10(5), respectively, by methods based on well-known molecule-molecule interactions. No assumption of self-assembly is required.     

Kinetics of reactions of the tris(2,2′-bi(4H-5,6-dihydrothiazine))iron(II) cation

Summary We report rate constants for reactions of tris(2,2-bi(4H-5,6-dihydrothiazine)iron(II), Fe(btz) ₃ ²⁺ , in acid solution, with hydroxide, with peroxodisulphate, with silver(I), with mercury(II), and with cadmium(II), in aqueous solution, and for the reaction of Fe(btz)_{3 3} ²⁺ with 1,10-phenanthroline and with 2,2-bipyridyl in aqueous methanol. Mechanisms and relative reactivities are discussed.     

Initial state and transition state contributions to solvent effects on rate constants for racemisation and dissociation of the [Fe(phen)3]2+ cation in DMSO-water mixtures

Summary Rate constants for racemisation and dissociation of the tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) cation, and solubilities of its picrate, are reported for dimethyl sulphoxide-water mixtures (0 to 40% by vol DMSO) at 298.2 K. The observed solvent effects on reactivity are analysed in terms of initial state and transition state contributions, and the pattern established compared with patterns for methanol- and acetone-water mixtures. In all cases the hydrophobic periphery of the ligand is dominant. Rate constants are also reported for racemisation and dissociation of the analogous complex [Fe(sb)₃]²⁺, where sb = the Schiff base from 2-benzoylpyridine andp-toluidine, in aqueous methanol.     

Kinetics of solvolysis and of formation of tetrachloroplatinate(II) in alcohol: Water mixtures

Summary Rate constants are reported for the reaction of [PtCl₄]^2– with hydrochloric-perchloric acid mixtures, in aqueous methanol and aqueous t-butanol at 308.2 K. The observed first-order rate constants are, from their dependence on chloride concentration, divisible into forward and reverse rate constants for the equilibrium: [PtCl₁₄]^2–+H₂O[PtCl₃(OH₂)]^–+Cl^–. The solvent dependence of aquation rates for [PtCl₄]^2– is compared with those for other chlorotransition metal complexes, and discussed in terms of the Grunwald-Winstein method of mechanism diagnosis in organic systems. The solvent dependence of rates of [PtCl₄]^2– formation is compared with the rates of formation of other metal complexes; differences between this platinum reaction and, for example, nickel(II) formation, are rationalised in terms of the reactant charge product difference and consequent solvent permittivity effects on rate trends.