Influence of alkali metal chlorides on the rate of mutarotation of N-(p-chlorophenyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine in methanol

The rate of benzoic acid catalyzed mutarotation reaction of N-(p-chlorophen yl)-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine has been studied in the presence of LiCl, Na Cl, KCl, RbCl, CsCl, NH4Cl and (CH3)(4)NCl in methanol and in methanolic be nzoate buffer solutions, at 25 degrees C. The effect of the ionic strength on the reaction, catalyzed by hydrogen ions and benzoic acid molecules, has been discussed. No specific interactions between een the alkali metal ions and the reactant have been observed. Logarithms of the rate constants of t he mutarotation reaction have been found to be linearly related to the diss ociation constants of the alkali metal chlorides in methanol.