Abstract
Abstract
The acid‐catalyzed hydrolyses of
N
‐(4‐substituted‐arylsulf inyl)phthalimides were studied in aqueous solutions of perchloric and sulfuric acids at 50.0 ± 0.1 and of hydrochloric acid at 40.0 ± 0.1 °C. Analysis of the data by the Cox–Yates excess acidity method and substituent, temperature and solvent isotope effects indicate hydrolysis by an
A
2 mechanism at low acidity. At higher acidities a changeover to an
A
1 mechanism is observed. Copyright© 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.