Kinetic investigation on alkaline hydrolysis of tris-(2,2ʹ-bipyridine)iron(II) in CTAB reverse micellar media

•CTAB reverse micelles catalyzes both hydrolytic and dissociation rates.•Hydrolytic rate passes maximum value at W = 7.41.•Dissociation rate decreases with increase in W.•Independency of rate on CTAB reveals that the reaction occurs in the cavity of water pool.•Rate increases with increase in Z.

The alkaline hydrolysis of tris-(2,2ʹ-bipyridyl)iron(II) complex has been studied in the CTAB/1-butanol/n-heptane reverse micellar media. The reaction obeys second-order kinetics: first order with respect to each of complex and alkali. Observed pseudo-first order rate constant (kobs) has been determined at different values of W and Z. Rate initially increases and then decreases with increase in W, showing a maximum at W = 7.41. Concentration of CTAB, at constant values of W and Z, has no effect on reaction rate; indicates that the reaction occurs inside the reverse micellar cavity of water pool. Below W = 7.41, both the rate of dissociation and alkaline hydrolysis proceed parallel with a moderate speed. With the increase in Z, concentration of butanol in the water pool increases; decreases the micro-polarity of the water pool and hence increases the rate. The kinetic results are interpreted using the pseudo-phase model.