Potentiometric and calorimetric methods were used to determine the pro
tonation constants and thermodynamic values of the protonation of diff
erent noncyclic 1,5-diamines, noncyclic 1,8-diamines and cyclic 1,8-di
amines in aqueous solution. The ligands were modified by oxygen and su
lfur atoms at the 3- and 6-position. The measured values of the stabil
ity constants and reaction enthalpies are compiled with data from the
literature. The protonation constants of the alkyl diamines exceed tho
se of the alkyl diamines containing oxygen or sulfur atoms by more tha
n one order of magnitude. The main contribution to the protonation con
stants of the noncyclic ligands is the reaction enthalpy. The values o
f the reaction entropies of the noncyclic diamines are nearly constant
and close to zero. No intramolecular stabilization of the protonated
amines by hetero atoms could be observed in aqueous solution. (C) 1997
Elsevier Science B.V.