Description:
<jats:p><jats:bold>Steric effects on the dissociation constants of acyclic, mono‐ and bicyclic carboxylic acids</jats:bold></jats:p><jats:p>Apparent p<jats:italic>K</jats:italic><jats:inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="graphic/tex2gif-stack-1.gif" xlink:title="urn:x-wiley:0018019X:media:HLCA19770600220:tex2gif-stack-1" /> values for the series of acyclic, mono‐ and bicyclic acids <jats:bold>1–14</jats:bold> have been measured in 50% (<jats:italic>W</jats:italic>/<jats:italic>W</jats:italic>) ethanol (see the Table). The dissociation constants of these acids decrease as the access of the solvent to the carboxylate group is hindered by the rest of the molecule. These results emphasize the importance of solvation in determining acid strength. New or improved syntheses of several of the acids investigated are reported.</jats:p>