TRANSFER OF THE NITROSO GROUP IN WATER AOT ISOOCTANE MICROEMULSIONS - INTRINSIC AND APPARENT REACTIVITY

The kinetics of the transfer of the nitroso group from N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide to each of seven secondary amines (piperazine, N-methylbenzylamine, piperidine, dimethylamine, morpholine, pyrrolidine, and diisopropylamine) was studied using a wide variety of water/AOT/isooctane microemulsions as reaction media. The diverse kinetic behavior of the various amines can be explained quantitatively on the basis of a single model taking into account the distribution of the amine among the aqueous and isooctane phases and their mutual interface; the reaction itself always takes place at the interface. The relative reactivities of the amines are discussed in comparison with the order observed in water.