Solvation effect of the cation of the supporting electrolyte in hexamethylphosphoramide

Polarographic reductions of sodium and potassium ions in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) have been examined in various supporting electrolytes. The supporting electrolytes, which have much the same solvated radii and much the same electrocapillary curves, sometimes have a significantly different influence on the polarographic reductions of metal ions. The Li⁺ and Hex₄N⁺ ions provide a typical example. Their effective radii are seen to have much the same characteristics. However, the polarographic reduction of the sodium ion shows a difference in shape between that occurring in Li⁺ solution and that in Hex₄N⁺ solution. Another example is found in the case of Et₄N⁺, Me₄N⁺ and 5N6⁺, whose r_eff and the electrocapillary curves are much the same. However, the polarographic reductions of the sodium and potassium ions are different in these solutions. The solvation number of the solvent molecule of the supporting electrolyte cation seems to exert a great influence on these reductions. The electrocapillary curves were also examined with the tetradodecylammonium ion, tetradecylammonium ion and tetraphenylphosphonium ion used as the supporting electrolytes. The inhibition of the reduction of metal ion for these cations is evidence for their lack of solvation. The effects of the solvated asymmetrical tetraalkylammonium ions on the polarographic behaviour were also examined. When some methyl groups cooperate with the tetraalkylammonium ion, the chemical character is between that of the Et₄N⁺ ion and that of the Me₄N⁺ ion.