Micellar catalysis of organic reactions. VIII. Kinetic studies of the hydrolysis of 2-acetyloxybenzoic acid (aspirin) in the presence of micelles

Abstract

The hydrolysis of 2-acetyloxybenzoic acid in the pH range 6-12 has been studied in the presence of micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (ctab) and cetylpyridinium chloride (cpc). In the plateau region (pH 6-8) the hydrolysis is inhibited by the presence of micelles, while in the region where the normal B_AC2 hydrolysis (pH > 9) occurs the reaction is catalysed by micelles of ctab and cpc. The mechanism of hydrolysis in the plateau region is shown to involve general base catalysis by the adjacent ionized carboxy group both in the presence and absence of micelles. This reaction is inhibited in the presence of micelles because the substrate molecules are solubilized into the micelle and water is less available in this environment than in normal aqueous solution.