Kinetics for the reactions of I2 with excess
N2H5
+/N2H4
and I- are measured by the loss of
I3
- over a wide range
of acidity from pH 0.35 to 8.0 at 25.0 °C, μ = 0.50 M.
Pseudo-first-order rate constants increase by factors
of
more than 107 with increase of pH, hydrazine, and buffer
concentrations. Below pH 1, I2 reacts directly
with
N2H5
+ which has a relative
reactivity that is 2.4 × 107 times smaller than
N2H4 (the dominant reactant at pH
≥
1). Kinetic evidence for
IN2H4
+ as a steady-state species
is found below pH 3. From pH 3.5 to 6.3, rate
constants
are measured by stopped-flow methods and at higher pH by
pulsed−accelerated-flow methods. A multistep
mechanism is proposed where I2 reacts rapidly with
N2H4 to form an
I2N2H4 adduct
(K
A = 2.0 × 104
M-1) that
is present in appreciable concentrations above pH 6. The adduct
undergoes general base-assisted deprotonation
accompanied by loss of I- in the rate-determining step.
Subsequent intermediates react rapidly with another
I2
to form N2 as a final product. At high pH, hydrazine
acts as a general base as well as the initial nucleophile.
Rate constants for various bases (H2O,
CH3COO-,
HPO4
2-, N2H4, and
OH-) fit a Brønsted β value of 0.46.
Values for the second-order rate constants
(M-1 s-1) for
I2N2H4 reactions with
CH3COO-,
HPO4
2-, N2H4,
and
OH- are 7.5 × 103, 2.0 × 105,
8.5 × 105, and 4.8 × 108,
respectively.