Abstract
This thesis is concerned with the kinetic acidities of a series of para-substituted phenacyl bromides and phenacyl chloride. The work is divided into three sections. After the general introduction the preparation of the substituted phenacyl branides is described in Chapter 1. In the following Chapter the acetate-catalysed rates of detritiation of these same compounds are measured at 25°. In the final Chapter rates of detritiation from phenacyl chloride are measured in the presence of various basic anions. These results are discussed in terms of the Bronsted relationship and compared with the results that have been obtained for other ketones.