Effects of nonionic micelles on the rate of alkaline hydrolysis of N-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phthalimide (1): Kinetic and rheometric evidence for a transition from spherical to rodlike micelles under the typical reaction conditions

► Evidence is presented for failure of the pseudophase micellar model for kinetic data analysis of micellar-mediated reaction(s). ► Rheometric data indicate a transition from spherical to rodlike micelles at a certain value of Rt (= [nonionic surf]/[NaOH]). ► The kinetic data fail to obey pseudophase micellar model at R ⩾ Rt. ► Rheometric and kinetic data show the micellar structural transition at R ⩾ Rt.