HYDROLYSIS OF 2-AMINOETHANETHIOLSULFATE IONS

The kinetics of the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of 2-aminoethanethiolsul fate (AETS) ions were investigated. The dependence of the hydrolysis r ate constant on acidity and temperature was determined. The hydrolysis rate equation can be expressed as d[AETS]/dt = -kH(o)[AETS] where H(o ) is the Hammett acidity function. The rate constant, k, can be expres sed as (2) k = 9.0 x 10(12) L mol-1 s-1 exp(-115.9 kJ mol-1/RT). The p K(A)'s for the compound were measured and literature value of pK(a1) w as found to be in error. The values determined in this study are pK(a1 ) < -0.5 and pK(a2) = 9.1 +/- 0.1. General acid catalysis of the hydro lysis reaction was found not to proceed to a significant degree. (C) 1 994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.