• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.520-528
• /
• 2007

A practical and efficient disposal of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in waste transformer oil by a chemical dechlorination process has been reported. The transformer oil containing commercial PCB mixtures (Aroclor 1242, 1254 and 1260) was treated by the required amounts of PEG 600 (polyethylene glycol 600), potassium hydroxide (KOH) and aluminum (Al), along with different reaction temperatures and times. The reaction of PEG with PCBs under basic condition produces arylpolyglycols, the products of nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The relative efficiencies of PCB treatment process were assessed in terms of destruction and removal efficiency (DRE, %). Under the experimental conditions of PEG600/KOH/Al/100 oC/2hr, average DRE of PCBs was approximately 78%, showing completely removal of PCBs containing 7-9 chlorines on two rings of biphenyl which appear later than PCB no. 183 (2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptaCB) in retention time of GC/ECD. However, when increasing the reaction temperature and time to 150 oC and 240 min, average DRE of PCBs including the most toxic PCBs (PCB no. 77, 105, 118, 123 and 169) in PCB family reached 99.99% or better, with the exception of PCB no. 5 and 8 (2,3-diCB and 2,4'-diCB). In studying the reaction of PEG with PCBs, it confirmed that the process led to less chlorinated PCBs through a stepwise process with the successive elimination of chlorines. The process also permits complete recovery of treated transformer oil through simple segregating procedures.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.1115-1119
• /
• 2013

A kinetic study is reported for nucleophilic substitution reactions of benzyl 2-pyridyl thionocarbonate (5b) and t-butyl 2-pyridyl thionocarbonate (6b) with a series of alicyclic secondary amines in $H_2O$ at $25.0^{\circ}C$. General-base catalysis, which has often been reported to occur for aminolysis of esters possessing a C=S electrophilic center, is absent for the reactions of 5b and 6b. The Br${\o}$nsted-type plots for the reactions of 5b and 6b are linear with ${\beta}_{nuc}$ = 0.29 and 0.43, respectively, indicating that the reactions of 5b proceed through a stepwise mechanism with formation of a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate ($T^{\pm}$) being the rate-determining step while those of 6b proceed through a concerted mechanism. The reactivity of 5b and 6b is similar to that of their oxygen analogues (i.e., benzyl 2-pyridyl carbonate 5a and t-butyl 2-pyridyl carbonate 6a, respectively), indicating that the effect of modification of the electrophilic center from C=O to C=S (i.e., from 5a to 5b and from 6a to 6b) on reactivity is insignificant. In contrast, 6b is much less reactive than 5b, indicating that the replacement of the $PhCH_2$ in 5b by the t-Bu in 6b results in a significant decrease in reactivity as well as a change in the reaction mechanism (i.e., from a stepwise mechanism to a concerted pathway). It has been concluded that the contrasting reactivity and reaction mechanism for the reactions of 5b and 6b are not due to the electronic effects of $PhCH_2$ and t-Bu but are caused by the large steric hindrance exerted by the bulky t-Bu in 6b.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.10
• /
• pp.2983-2988
• /
• 2013

Second-order rate constants ($k_N$) have been measured spectrophotometrically for the reactions of 4-chloro-2-nitrophenyl X-substituted-benzoates (1a-1h) with a series of cyclic secondary amines in 80 mol % $H_2O$/20 mol % DMSO at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The Hammett plot for the reactions of 1a-1h with piperidine consists of two intersecting straight lines, while the Yukawa-Tsuno plot exhibits an excellent linear correlation with ${\rho}_X $ = 1.25 and r = 0.58, indicating that the nonlinear Hammett plot is not due to a change in the rate-determining step (RDS) but is caused by ground-state stabilization through resonance interactions for substrates possessing an electron-withdrawing group in the benzoyl moiety. The Br${\o}$nsted-type plot for the reactions of 4-chloro-2-nitrophenyl benzoate (1d) with a series of cyclic secondary amines curves downward with ${\beta}_2$ = 0.85, ${\beta}_1$ = 0.24, and $pK_a{^o}$ = 10.5, implying that a change in RDS occurs from the $k_2$ step to the $k_1$ process as the $pK_a$ of the conjugate acid of the amine exceeds 10.5. Dissection of $k_N$ into the microscopic rate constants $k_1$ and $k_2/k_{-1}$ ratio associated with the reaction of 1d reveals that $k_2$ is dependent on the amine basicity, which is contrary to generally held views.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.857-862
• /
• 2011

Kinetic studies of the reactions of N-methyl-Y-${\alpha}$-bromoacetanilides with substituted X-benzylamines have been carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide at $25.0^{\circ}C$. The Hammett plots for substituent X variations in the nucleophiles (log $k_N$ vs ${\sigma}_X$) are slightly biphasic concave upwards/downwards, while the Bronsted plots (log $k_N$ vs $pK_a$) are biphasic concave downwards with breakpoints at X = H. The Hammett plots for substituent Y variations in the substrates (log $k_N$ vs ${\sigma}_Y$) are biphasic concave upwards/downwards with breakpoints at Y = H. The cross-interaction constant $\rho_{XY}$ values are all negative: $\rho_{XY}$ = -0.32 for X = Y = electron-donating; -0.22 for X = electron-withdrawing and Y = electron-donating; -1.80 for X = electron-donating and Y = electronwithdrawing; -1.43 for X = Y = electron-withdrawing substituents. Deuterated kinetic isotope effects are primary normal ($k_H/k_D$ > 1) for Y = electron-donating, while secondary inverse ($k_H/k_D$ < 1) for Y = electronwithdrawing substituent. The proposed mechanisms of the benzylaminolyses of N-methyl-Y-${\alpha}$-bromoacetanilides are a concerted mechanism with a five membered ring TS involving hydrogen bonding between hydrogen (deuterium) atom in N-H(D) and oxygen atom in C = O for Y = electron-donating, while a concerted mechanism with an enolate-like TS in which the nucleophile attacks the ${\alpha}$-carbon for Y = electronwithdrawing substituents.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.10
• /
• pp.2929-2933
• /
• 2010

Pseudo-first-order rate constants ($k_{obsd}$) have been measured for nucleophilic substitution reactions of 2-pyridyl benzoate 5 with alkali metal ethoxides (EtOM, M = Li, Na, K) in anhydrous ethanol. The plots of $k_{obsd}$ vs. $[EtOM]_o$ are curved upwardly but linear in the excess presence of 18-crown-6-ether (18C6) with significant decreased $k_{obsd}$ values in the reaction with EtOK. The $k_{obsd}$ value for the reaction of 5 with a given EtONa concentration decreases steeply upon addition of 15-crown-5-ether (15C5) to the reaction medium up to ca. [15C5]/$[EtONa]_o$ = 1, and remains nearly constant thereafter, indicating that $M^+$ ions catalyze the reaction in the absence of the complexing agents. Dissection $k_{obsd}$ into $k_{EtO^-}$- and $k_{EtOM}$, i.e., the second-order rate constants for the reaction with the dissociated $EtO^-$ and the ion-paired EtOM, respectively has revealed that ion-paired EtOM is 3.2 - 4.6 times more reactive than dissociated $EtO^-$. It has been concluded that $M^+$ ions increase the electrophilicity of the reaction center through a 6-membered cyclic transition state. This idea has been examined from the corresponding reactions of 4-pyridyl benzoate 6, which cannot form such a 6-membered cyclic transition state.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.20 no.11
• /
• pp.1499-1507
• /
• 2011

Practical disposal of transformer insulation oil laden with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) by a chemical treatment has been studied in field work. The transformer insulation oil containing PCBs was treated by the required amounts of PEG (polyethylene glycol) and KOH, along with different reaction conditions such as temperatures and times. The reaction of PEG with PCBs under basic condition produces arylpolyglycols, the products of nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Removal efficiencies of PCBs in insulation oil before and after chemical treatment were examined. The removal efficiency of PCBs was very low at lower temperatures of 25 and $50^{\circ}C$. Under the reaction condition of PEG 600/KOH/$100^{\circ}C$/2hr, removal efficiency of PCBs was approximately 70%, showing completely removal of PCBs containing 7~9 chlorines on biphenyl frame which appear later than PCB IUPAC Number 183 (2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptaCB) in retention time of GC/ECD. However, when increasing the reaction temperature and time to $150^{\circ}C$ and 4 hours, removal efficiency of PCBs reached 99.99% without any formation of PCDDS/PCDFs during the process. Such reaction conditions were verified by several official analytical institutions. In studying the reaction of PEG with PCBs, it confirmed that the process of chemical treatment led to less chlorinated PCBs through a stepwise process with the successive elimination of chlorines.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.30 no.7
• /
• pp.1579-1582
• /
• 2009

The reaction rates of 4-X-2,6-dinitrochlorobenzenes (X = $NO_2,\;CN,\;CF_3$) with Y-substituted pyridines (Y = 3-$OCH_3,\;H,\;3-CH_3,\;4-CH_3$) in methanol-acetonitrile mixtures were measured by conductometry at 25 ${^{\circ}C}$. It was observed that the rate constant increased in the order of X = 4-$NO_2\;>\;4-CN\;>\;4-CF_3$ and the rate constant also increased in the order of Y = 4-$CH_3\;>\;3-CH_3\;>\;H\;>\;3-OCH_3$. When the solvent composition was varied, the rate constant increased in order of MeCN > 50% MeOH > MeOH. The electrophilic catalysis by methanol may be ascribed to the formation of hydrogen bonds between alcoholic hydrogen and nitrogen of pyridines in ground state. Based on the transition parameters, ${\rho}_S,\;{\rho}_N,\;{\beta}_Y,\;{\rho}_{XY}$ and solvent effects, the reaction seems to proceed via $S_N$Ar-Ad.E mechanism. We also estimated the isokinetic solvent mixtures (${\rho}_{XY}$ = 0) based on cross-interaction constants, where the substituent effects of the substrate and nucleophile are compensated.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.214-218
• /
• 2009

Second-order rate constants ($k_N$) have been measured for nucleophilic substitution reactions of S-4-nitrophenyl thiobenzoate with a series of alicyclic secondary amines in $H_2O$ containing 20 mol % DMSO at 25.0 ${\pm}$ 0.1 ${^{\circ}C}$. The Br$\phi$nsted-type plot exhibits a downward curvature, i.e., $\beta_{nuc}$ decreases from 0.94 to 0.34 as the amine basicity increases. The reactions in the aqueous DMSO have also been suggested to proceed through a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T${\pm}$) with change in the RDS on the basis of the curved Br$\phi$nsted-type plot. The reactions in the aqueous DMSO exhibit larger $k_N$ values than those in the aqueous EtOH. The macroscopic rate constants ($k_N$) for the reactions in the two solvent systems have been dissected into the microscopic rate constants ($k_1\;and\;k_2/k_{-1}$ ratio) to investigate effect of medium on reactivity in the microscopic level. It has been found that the $k_2/k_{-1}$ ratios are similar for the reactions in the two solvent systems, while $k_1$ values are larger for the reactions in 20 mol % DMSO than for those in 44 wt % EtOH, indicating that the larger $k_1$ is mainly responsible for the larger $k_N$. It has been suggested that the transition state is more stabilized in 20 mol % DMSO through mutual polarizability interaction than in 44 wt % EtOH through H-bonding interaction.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2013

Second-order rate constants have been measured spectrophotometrically for the reactions of phenyl Y-substituted-phenyl carbonates 7a-g with butane-2,3-dione monoximate ($Ox^-$) in 80 mol % $H_2O$/20 mol % DMSO at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The ${\alpha}$-nucleophile $Ox^-$ is 53-95 times more reactive than the corresponding normal-nucleophile 4-$ClPhO^-$ toward 7a-g, indicating that the ${\alpha}$-effect is operative. The magnitude of the ${\alpha}$-effect (e.g., the $k_{Ox^-}/k_{4-ClPhO^-}$ ratio) is independent of the electronic nature of the substituent Y. The cause of the ${\alpha}$-effect for the reactions of 7a-g has been suggested to be ground-state (GS) effect rather than transition-state (TS) stabilization through a six-membered cyclic TS, in which $Ox^-$ behaves a general acid/base catalyst. This idea is further supported by the result that $OH^-$ exhibits negative deviation from the linear Br${\o}$nsted-type plot composed of a series of aryloxides, while $Ox^-$ deviates positively from the linearity. Differential solvation of the GS of $Ox^-$ and 4-$ClPhO^-$ has been suggested to be responsible for the ${\alpha}$-effect exerted by $Ox^-$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.1525-1529
• /
• 2013

Pseudo-first-order rate constants ($k_{obsd}$) have been measured spectrophotometrically for the nucleophilic substitution reactions of 2-pyridyl thionobenzoate (5b) with alkali-metal ethoxides (EtOM, $M^+=Li^+$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, and 18-crown-6-ether complexed $K^+$) in anhydrous ethanol at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The plots of $k_{obsd}$ vs. $[EtOM]_o$ curve upward regardless of the nature of the $M^+$ ions, while those of $k_{obsd}/[EtO^-]_{eq}$ vs. $[EtO^-]_{eq}$ are linear with a positive intercept. Dissection of $k_{obsd}$ into $k_{EtO^-}$ and $k_{EtOM}$ (i.e., the second-order rate constants for the reactions with the dissociated $EtO^-$ and ion-paired EtOM, respectively) has revealed that the ion-paired EtOM is more reactive than the dissociated $EtO^-$, and $M^+$ ions catalyze the reactions in the order $K^+$ < $Na^+$ < $Li^+$ < 18C6-complexed $K^+$. The plot of log $k_{EtOM}$ vs. $1/r_{Stokes}$ results in an excellent linear correlation, indicating that the reactions are catalyzed by the solvated $M^+$ ions but not by the bare $M^+$ ions. The reactions of 5b with EtOM have been concluded to proceed through a six-membered cyclic TS, in which the solvated $M^+$ ions increase the electrophilicity of the reaction center and the nucleofugality of the leaving group.