Acid strength Lewis acids

Figure 4.28 Effect of steaming and calcination on Bronsted and Lewis acid site strength distributions of a FAU-type zeolite as determined by pyridine adsorption/desorption IR.

The thermodynamic tendency of a substance to act as a Lewis acid. The strength of a Lewis acid depends on the nature of the base with which the Lewis acid forms a Lewis adduct. Hence, comparative measures of Lewis acidities are given by equilibrium constants for the formation of the adducts by a common reference base. See Lewis Acid Electrophilicity Hard Acids Soft Acids Acceptor Number... 

Table 2-6. Some E and C parameters expressing Lewis acid/base strength according to Drago [217] ) cf Eq. (2-12).

In the present article, the discussion concentrates on the catalytic activity and selectivity of solid metal sulfates in terms of the acidic property (acidity, acid strength, and Bronsted and Lewis acids) by integrating the kinetic and structural studies. 

The mechanisms of ionic and coordination polymerizations are more complex and are not as clearly understood as those of free radical polymerization. Here, we will briefly highlight the essential features of these mechanisms, and more details will be given in Chapter 7. Initiation of ionic polymerization usually involves the transfer of an ion or an electron to or from the monomer. Many monomers can polymerize by more than one mechanism, but the most appropriate polymerization mechanism for each monomer is related to the polarity of the monomers and the Lewis acid-base strength of the ion formed. 

No symbol) Softness (used with Lewis acid/ base strengths) Pearson (1963)... 

Donor strengths, taken from ref. 207b, based upon the solvent effect on the symmetric stretching frequency of the soft Lewis acid HgBr2. Gutmann s donor number taken from ref 207b, based upon AHr for the process of coordination of an isolated solvent molecule to the moderately hard SbCL molecule in dichioroethane. ° Bulk donor number calculated as described in ref 209 from the solvent effect on the adsorption spectrum of VO(acac)2. Taken from ref 58, based on the NMR chemical shift of triethylphosphine oxide in the respective pure solvent. Taken from ref 61, based on the solvatochromic shift of a pyridinium-A-phenoxide betaine dye. 

Table 2.5. Apparent second-order rate constants for the catalysed Diels-Alder reaction between Ic and 2, equilibrinm constants for complexation of 2.4c to different Lewis-acids (Kj) and second-order rate constants for the reaction of these complexes with 2.5 (k at) in water at 2M ionic strength at 25°C.

Table 2.7. Hammett p-values for complexation of 2.4a-e to different Lewis-adds and for rate constants (kcat) of the Diels-Alder reaction of 2.4a-e with 2.5 catalysed by different Lewis-acids in water at 2.00 M ionic strength at 25°C.

Clearly, complete understanding of solvent effects on the enantioselectivity of Lewis-acid catalysed Diels-Alder reactions has to await future studies. For a more detailed mechanistic understanding of the origins of enantioselectivity, extension of the set of solvents as well as quantitative assessment of the strength of arene - arene interactions in these solvent will be of great help. 

Chapter 5 also demonstrates that a combination of Lewis-acid catalysis and micellar catalysis can lead to accelerations of enzyme-like magnitudes. Most likely, these accelerations are a consequence of an efficient interaction between the Lewis-acid catalyst and the dienophile, both of which have a high affinity for the Stem region of the micelle. Hence, hydrophobic interactions and Lewis-acid catalysis act cooperatively. Unfortunately, the strength of the hydrophobic interaction, as offered by the Cu(DS)2 micellar system, was not sufficient for extension of Lewis-acid catalysis to monodentate dienophiles. 

Boron trichloride, usually in conjunction with an additional Lewis acid, effects o-chloroacetylation of anilines. The resulting products are converted to indoles by reduction with NaBH4.[l], The strength of the Lewis acid required depends upon the substitution pattern on the ring. With ER substituents no additional... 

The boron atom in boron trifluoride is hybridized to the sp planar configuration and consequently is coordinatively unsaturated, ie, a Lewis acid. Its chemistry centers around satisfying this unsaturation by the formation with Lewis bases of adducts that are nearly tetrahedral sp [ The electrophilic properties (acid strengths) of the trihaloboranes have been found to increase in the order BF < BCl < BBr < BI (3,4). 

Mechanistically the rate-determining step is nucleophilic attack involving the hydroxide ion and the more positive siUcon atom in the Si—H bond. This attack has been related to the Lewis acid strength of the corresponding silane, ie, to the abiUty to act as an acceptor for a given attacking base. Similar inductive and steric effects apply for acid hydrolysis of organosilanes (106). 

The boron tnhahdes are strong Lewis acids, however, the order of relative acid strengths, BI > > BCl > BF, is contrary to that expected... 

Cosolvents ana Surfactants Many nonvolatile polar substances cannot be dissolved at moderate temperatures in nonpolar fluids such as CO9. Cosolvents (also called entrainers, modifiers, moderators) such as alcohols and acetone have been added to fluids to raise the solvent strength. The addition of only 2 mol % of the complexing agent tri-/i-butyl phosphate (TBP) to CO9 increases the solubility ofnydro-quinone by a factor of 250 due to Lewis acid-base interactions. Veiy recently, surfac tants have been used to form reverse micelles, microemulsions, and polymeric latexes in SCFs including CO9. These organized molecular assemblies can dissolve hydrophilic solutes and ionic species such as amino acids and even proteins. Examples of surfactant tails which interact favorably with CO9 include fluoroethers, fluoroacrylates, fluoroalkanes, propylene oxides, and siloxanes. 

The strength of the complexation is a function of both the donor atom and the metal ion. The solvent medium is also an important factor because solvent molecules that are potential electron donors can compete for the Lewis acid. Qualitative predictions about the strength of donor-acceptor complexation can be made on the basis of the hard-soft-acid-base concept (see Section 1.2.3). The better matched the donor and acceptor, the stronger is the complexation. Scheme 4.3 gives an ordering of hardness and softness for some neutral and ionic Lewis acids and bases. 

The parameters and Ca are associated with the Lewis acid, and Eg and Cb with the base. a and b are interpreted as measures of electrostatic interaction, and Ca and Cb as measures of covalent interaction. Drago has criticized the DN approach as being based upon a single model process, and this objection applies also to the — A/y fBFs) model. Drago s criticism is correct, yet we should be careful not to reject a simple concept provided its limits are appreciated. Indeed, many very useful chemical quantities are subject to this criticism for example, p o values are measures of acid strength with reference to the base water. 

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