SOLVENT WATER PARTITIONING OF DIMETHYLMETHYLPHOSPHONATE (DMMP) AS A PROBE OF SOLVENT ACIDITY

Experimentally determined partition coefficients for DMMP between NaCl-saturated water and 20 solvents were correlated using the solvatochromic parameters alpha, beta, and pi*. An inverted LSER was then used to predict a for 7 additional solvents. The new cohesion parameters alphabeta and pi*2 were found to be more representative of cavity formation than delta(H)2. Most importantly, it was essential to include either alphabeta or delta(H)2 in the LSER. The partition method appears to be a useful adjunct to solvatochromic techniques in refining and extending the a scale of solvent acidity and could be used to rationalize solvent selection in extraction processes.