Catalytic effects of cationic polymeric liposomes on the alkaline hydrolysis of aniomic phenyl esters

Alkaline hydrolyses of anionic phenyl esters such as 4-acetoxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid and 4-butyryloxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid were examined in the presence of cationic and polymeric liposomes, liposomes of low molecular weight compounds, and micelles. All the additives accelerate the reaction due to the hydrophobic interaction between substrates and additives and the electrostatic interaction both between substrates and additives and between OH^? and additives. In the Arrhenius plots of the reactions catalyzed by the liposomes, discontinuous regions were observed due to the phase transition of liposomes from the gel state to the liquid crystal state. Activation parameters ΔH^≠, ΔS^≠ and ΔV^≠ for these reaction systems were evaluated. Both ΔS^≠ and ΔV^≠ values increase upon the addition of cationic liposomes and micelles. These results were attributed to the desolvation of the activated complex by the strong electrostatic affinity to the cationic colloidal additives.