Correlation of the Rates of Solvolysis of the Benzhydryldimethylsulfonium Ion. Application of the Aromatic Ring Parameter(1).

Values for the specific rates of solvolysis of the benzhydryldimethylsulfonium ion in 34 solvents have been analyzed using various forms of the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation. The specific rates are insensitive toward changes in solvent nucleophilicity (N(T)) values, and they correlate best against a combination of Y(+) values (based on the solvolyses of the 1-adamantyldimethylsulfonium ion) and aromatic ring parameter (I) values. Common-molecule return is observed, being especially powerful in solvents rich in fluoro alcohol; the logarithm of the associated mass law constant correlates inversely with the solvent N(T) values. The product selectivities in ethanol-water mixtures are also consistent with an S(N)1 mechanism for the solvolyses.