Vol. 2, Issue 11, Part E (2016)

Abstract
The kinetic studies on the reaction of p-Toluenesulfonyl Chloride (TsCl) with α-Hydroxy acids in the presence of Pyridine under equimolar and pseudo first order conditions in Acetonitrile at 20, 30 and 40 ˚C have been studied by conductometric method. The rate constants were obtained by the least square method. Kinetic data shows that the reaction follows second order kinetics and first order with respect to each of the reactants. The attacking nucleophile is found to be a hydrogen bonded ion pair. Thermodynamic parameters have been evaluated by using kinetic data. The entropy of activation is negative as expected for bimolecular reactions. Kinetic data and product analysis indicate that the reaction proceeds through direct nucleophilic attack on the sulfur center.