SOLUTIONS OF PHENYLIODOSO ACETATE - DECOMPOSITION IN ACETIC ACID AND EFFECT OF PERCHLORIC ACID

Phenyliodoso acetate appears capable of sustaining both free-radical and ionic reactions. Conductivity studies on solutions of phenyliodoso acetate in acetic acid indicate a small degree of ionic dissociation at temperatures above room temperature. Photolysis of the iodoso compound is a zero-order reaction and a homolytic mechanism is proposed for the decomposition. Evidence from conductivity and spectroscopic studies indicates that there is interaction between the iodoso compound and hydrogen ions. The decomposition of phenyliodoso acetate in acetic acid is markedly accelerated by the addition of perchloric acid. In the absence of acid no conclusion about mechanism is possible; when acid is present decomposition occurs by an ionic mechanism.