Alkyl Inductive Effects on Molecular Ionization Potentials. XVI. Esters

Correlation of molecular ionization potentials, E 1 , with Taft's alkyl inductive substituent constants, σ 1(R) , has now been extended to include the esters. It is found that three series of esters, the formates, acetates, and methyl alkanoates, fall on three separate straight lines in accord with the general equation E 1  = E 0  + a 1 σ 1(R) , where E 0 is the intercept and a 1 the slope. The average standard error for the three lines is 0.024 eV with an average correlation coefficient of 0.992, showing that the alkyl substituent exerts an inductive influence on the electron density at the site suffering the electron loss: a lone pair on either the carbonyl or alkoxy oxygen atom. Evidence is deduced for the site of electron expulsion and a prediction is made concerning the site of vapor phase protonation of esters and carboxylic acids. E 1 values presently not available experimentally are predicted for several esters.