Organic solid state reactivity-Reaction between a-naphthol and 1,4-naphthoquinone

Abstract

<em>a</em>-Naphthol reacts with 1,4-naphthoquinone to form a 1 : 1 weak molecular complex in solid as well as in solution state. The UV and visible spectroscopic studies do not show any new band indicating g that either charge-transfer interaction is absent or the complex is dissociated in solution. The infrared and NMR spectroscopic studies show that the oxygen atom of C = O group of 1,4-naphthouinone is hydrogen bonded with H atom of OH group of <em>a</em>-naphthol. Kinetic studies of the solid is the reaction in capillary show that the kinetic data obey the equation, ζ = <em>k</em>t<em>ⁿ</em> and the energy of activation is found to be 28.7 kJ/mol. This suggests that the diffusion might be taking place through surface migration. Reactions of 1,4-naphthoquinone vapours at the surface of <em>a</em>-naphthol single crystal have shown that the solid state reaction is nucleation controlled process and the reaction s at the point of defect or strain at the surface of the single crystal of <em>a</em>-naphthol.