Abstract: The micellar catalysis of cetyl pyridine chloride(CPC) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride(CTAC) on the basic hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) was investigated and the effect of adding butyl alcohol on the activation energy of the basic hydrolysis under micellar catalysis was calculated. The results show that: (1) The hydrolysis is catalyzed obviously by CPC and CTAC micelles; (2) Addition of small amount of t-C₄H₉OH en-hances the catalytic effect of CPC micelle; (3) The activation energy of the hydrolysis reaction in the solution of cationic micelles is 49 kJ·mol^-1, which is much lower than the value of 91 kJ·mol^-1 in water, implying a difference between the mechanisms of hydrolysis reaction in water and in micellar solutions.

Key words: Micellar catalysis, 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene, Cationic surfactant, Activation energy of micellar catalysis