Detailed thermodynamic analysis of the activation parameters for the simple hydrolysis of acetic anhydride in the acetonitrile/water cosolvent system

A detailed thermodynamic analysis of the activation parameters for the simple hydrolysis of acetic anhydride in an acetonitrile/water cosolvent system is presented. The activation parameters are obtained using regression analyses of the Eyring rate equation under iso-mole fraction and isodielectric conditions. The iso-mole fraction Eyring plots are linear, indicating the activation enthalpy and entropy are both temperature independent under these conditions. However, the isodielectric Eyring plots are non-linear, and the analysis shows both the activation entropy and activation enthalpy are strongly temperature dependent under isodielectric conditions. The thermodynamic analysis is complemented by linear solvent energy analysis and computational studies of possible transition structures, the latter showing that a concerted six-member ring structure with a single water molecule is the likely transition state.