A Grunwald-Winstein treatment of the specific rates of solvolysis of α-bromoisobutyrophenone in 100% methanol and in several aqueous ethanol, methanol, acetone, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE), and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) mixtures gives a good logarithmic correlation against a linear combination of NT (solvent nucleophilicity) and YBr (solvent ionizing power) values. The l and m sensitivity values are compared to those previously reported for α-bromoacetophenone and to those obtained from parallel treatments of literature specific rate values for the solvolyses of several tertiary mesylates containing a C(=O)R group attached at the α-carbon. Kinetic data obtained earlier by Pasto and Sevenair for the solvolyses of the same substrate in 75% aqueous ethanol (by weight) in the presence of silver perchlorate and perchloric acid are analyzed using multiple regression analysis.
Keywords: 2-Benzoyl-2-bromopropane; Correlation; Grunwald-Winstein equations; Mechanism; Solvolysis; α-Bromoisobutyrophenone.