KINETICS OF THE REACTION BETWEEN PHENYLACETONITRILE AND 2-CHLORO-5-NITRO-1-(TRIFLUOROMETHYL)BENZENE UNDER PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYSIS CONDITIONS

The substitution reaction of chloride by phenylacetonitrile anion in 2 -chloro-5-nitro-1-(trifluoromethyl)benzene under phase-transfer cataly sis has been studied. The kinetic profile of the reaction has been inv estigated as a function of variables such as (a) concentration of the reaction mixture components in the organic phase, (b) catalyst structu re and concentration, (c) aqueous hydroxide ion concentration, and (d) temperature. The results were used to evaluate the second-order rate coefficients (k) of the substitution reaction in the organic phase. A mechanism to rationalize the kinetic results is proposed.