Reactivity and acid-base behavior of ring-methoxylated arylalkanoic acid radical cations and radical zwitterions in aqueous solution. Influence of structural effects and pH on the benzylic C-H deprotonation pathway

The reactivity and acid-base behavior of ring-methoxylated arylalkanoic acid radical cations and radical zwitterions in aqueous solution is investigated through time-resolved studies. The results reveal that the radical cation p[K.sub.a] values increase by increasing the number of methoxy ring substituents and by increasing the distance between the carboxylic group and the aromatic ring.