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824868 
Journal Article 
Relationship between Sulphonation and Desulphonation 
Baddeley, G; Holt, G; Kenner, J 
1944 
1 
Nature
ISSN: 0028-0836
EISSN: 1476-4687 
154 
361 
THE familiar process of recovery of aromatic compounds from their sulphonic acids is probably almost universally regarded as one of hydrolysis. We have, however, confirmed our expectation that it might be more correctly comparable with the ordinary Dumas process of decarboxylation, and so involve their anions rather than the acids themselves; for a kinetic study of the desulphonation of m-cresol-sulphonic acid in 90 per cent acetic acid containing also hydrobromic or sulphuric acid showed its velocity to be independent of the concentration of the sulphonic acid, to conform to the first-order equation and to be proportional to the hydrogen ion activity of the solution, but independent of the nature of the inorganic anion. Sulphonic acids of mesitylene, phenol, P-cresol, and 4-nitrodiphenyl-amine, exhibited a similar behaviour.