Reactivity and Microstructure in Water / Ethoxy Alcohols / Toluene Ternary Solutions

The phase diagrams of several ethoxylated alcohols in the presence of water and toluene are reported. From their behaviour and from data obtained through conductivity, light scattering, C-13-NMR, index of refraction, static dielectric constant and kinetic measurements, we had the evidence of microscopic structuration in some of the systems. The kinetic data for the electron transfer reaction between tetrabromo-1,2-benzoquinone and 1,4-benzenediol obtained in the ternary system water/C2E1/toluene well accord to the Marcus theory. The deviations form the theory of other systems are ascribed to the microscopic structuration of ternary solutions.