EFFECT OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE ON THE ALKALINE-HYDROLYSIS OF CARBON-DISULFIDE

The stability of carbon disulfide in aqueous alkaline solutions has been compared in the absence and presence of hydrogen peroxide, by a headspace gas chromatography technique. Reactant decay is first order in CS2 and OH− in solutions containing sodium hydroxide alone. At room temperature, the second-order rate constant 1 × 10−3 M−1 s−1 matches previous measurements for basic hydrolysis and, along with the activation energy 22 kcal mol−1, is consistent with rate control in a carbonate-like hydration step. In alkaline hydrogen peroxide solutions, loss is also first order in H2O2, suggesting reaction between CS2 and the HO2− anion with a second-order rate constant in the range 10-100 M−1 s−1. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.