ACID DISSOCIATION-CONSTANTS OF ALKYL XANTHIC ACIDS AND FORMATION-CONSTANTS OF CADMIUM(II) AND ZINC(II) XANTHATO COMPLEXES IN 1-1 V/V H2O-DMF MEDIUM

The overall formation constants, beta //3, of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) complexes with alkyl xanthates (O-alkyl dithiocarbonates) were determined by polarography in the 1:1 v/v water-N,N-dimethylformamide mixture. The values of these constants increase in the order, methyl less than ethyl less than propyl less than butyl less than 2-methylpropyl less than 1-methylethyl xanthate. This order agrees entirely with the order of the basicity of alkyl xanthates determined by using the kinetic parameter of the acid decomposition of xanthates.