RELATIVE ACIDITIES OF PHENOLS AND BENZOIC ACIDS IN DIMETHYLSULFOXIDE

An attempt is made to correlate the relative acidities of phenols and benzoic acids in dimethylsulfoxide and water. Mathematical expressions relating the acidity of the acids in the two solvents are presented and the data show that phenols display a greater increase in their relative acidity in dimethylsulfoxide than do benzoic acids. Differentiating titrations are presented and such titrations are feasible where the acids differ by 140 mV in their half-neutralization potentials. Comparative data are presented for the pyridine solvent system. © 1969.