The kinetics and transient optical absorption spectra of the intermediates formed in the reaction of •OH, N3
•,
and e-
aq with 1-arylazo-2-naphthol and its ortho- and para-substituted chloro, methyl and methoxy derivatives
at pH 7.0 have been studied by pulse radiolysis. The rate constants for the reaction of •OH and the nucleophilic
hydrated electron (e-
aq) with these compounds are (1.0−1.2) × 1010 M-1 s-1 and (0.8−2.5) × 1010 M-1 s-1.
The reaction of N3
• with these azo dyes is more selective (ρ+ = −2.0) with the rate constants varying between
0.1 × 109 and 8 × 109 M-1 s-1 depending upon the substituent. The transient optical absorption spectra of
the intermediates formed in the reaction of the dyes with •OH are different from the corresponding spectra of
the intermediates observed in the reaction of the dyes with N3
•. The •OH radical reacts with the dyes by
addition to form the •OH adducts, whereas N3
• reacts with the dyes by direct one-electron transfer to form the
one-electron oxidized dye radical. The pK
A of the dye radical of the para-methoxy derivative was determined
to be 5.2. This radical decays bimolecularly, predominantly by disproportionation, whereas the •OH adducts
of the dyes also decay bimolecularly but predominantly by dimerization. The initially formed radical anion
in the reaction of e-
aq with the unsubstituted dye protonates rapidly to give the hydrazyl radical, which decays
bimolecularly by disproportionation. Of the radicals studied, the •OH-induced oxidation of the dyes is the
most effective process leading to decolorization of the dyes at pH 7.0.