Abstract: | Kinetics and mechanism of nitration of aromatic compounds using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA)/NaNO2, TCCA-N,N-dimethyl formamide (TCCA-DMF)/NaNO2, and TCCA-N,N-dimethyl acetamide (TCCA-DMA)/NaNO2 under acid-free and Vilsmeier-Haack conditions. Reactions followed second-order kinetics with a first-order dependence on Phenol] and Nitrating agent] (TCCA], (TCCA-DMF)], or (TCCA-DMA)] >> NaNO2]). Reaction rates accelerated with the introduction of electron-donating groups and retarded with electron-withdrawing groups, but did not fit well into the Hammett's theory of linear free energy relationship or its modified forms like Brown-Okamoto or Yukawa-Tsuno equations. Rate data were analyzed by Charton's multiple linear regression analysis. Isokinetic temperature (β) values, obtained from Exner's theory for different protocols, are 403.7 K (TCCA-NaNO2), 365.8 K (TCCA-DMF)/NaNO2, and 358 K (TCCA-DMA)/NaNO2. These values are far above the experimental temperature range (303-323 K), indicating that the enthalpy factors are probably more important in controlling the reaction. |