Solvent effect on acid–base clustering between acetic acid and pyridine

The solvent effect on the acid–base interaction between acetic acid and pyridine has been studied by the mass spectrometric analysis of clusters isolated from liquid droplets. The clusters resulting from the acetic acid–pyridine, acid–base, interaction in water are quite different from those in acetonitrile solvent. In water (acetic acid∶pyridine∶water = 1∶1∶10) the acid–base interaction occurs through the intercluster interaction between acetic acid and pyridine clusters. On the other hand, in acetonitrile (acetic acid∶pyridine∶acetonitrile = 1∶1∶10), the acid–base interaction proceeds through an intermonomer interaction between an acetic acid molecule and pyridine molecule, and the clusters are produced through the aggregation of a polar (acetic acid)δ–(pyridine)δ+ complex. This solvent effect is mainly attributed to the cluster structure of acetic acid and pyridine in water and acetonitrile solvent.