Reaction of Phenylene Diamines with Phenacyl Bromide

Arrhenius parameters have been determined for the reaction of aniline, ortho-, meta- and paraphenylene diamines (PDA) with phenacyl bromide in nitrobenzene. The amino group at ortho- position of aniline does not alter the rate to a great extent possibly due to a hydrogen bonded structure. The meta- and para-isomers increase the rate to a very great extent with considerable change in the value of energy of activation. The reaction has also been studied in a number of solvents and an attempt has been made to correlate the solvent effect.