Inchemistry adonor number (DN) is a quantitative measure ofLewis basicity. A donor number is defined as the negativeenthalpy value for the 1:1 adduct formation between a Lewis base and the standardLewis acid SbCl5 (antimony pentachloride), in dilute solution in the noncoordinating solvent1,2-dichloroethane with a zero DN. The units arekilocalories permole for historical reasons.[1] The donor number is a measure of the ability of asolvent tosolvatecations and Lewis acids. The method was developed by V. Gutmann in 1976.[2] Likewise Lewis acids are characterized by acceptor numbers (AN, seeGutmann–Beckett method).
The donor number of a solvent can be measured viacalorimetry, although it is frequently measured withnuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy using assumptions oncomplexation.[4] A critical review of the donor number concept has pointed out the serious limitations of this affinity scale.[5] Furthermore, it has been shown that to define the order of Lewis base strength (or Lewis acid strength) at least two properties must be considered.[6] For Pearson qualitativeHSAB theory, the two properties are hardness and strength,[7] while for Drago's quantitativeECW model, the two properties are electrostatic and covalent.[8]
^D.T. Sawyer, J.L. Roberts (1974).Experimental Electrochemistry for Chemists. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
^KATAYAMA, Misaki; SHINODA, Mitsushi; OZUTSUMI, Kazuhiko; FUNAHASHI, Shigenobu; INADA, Yasuhiro (2012). "Reevaluation of Donor Number Using Titration Calorimetry".Analytical Sciences.28 (2):103–106.doi:10.2116/analsci.28.103.ISSN0910-6340.PMID22322801.
^Laurence, C. and Gal, J-F. Lewis Basicity and Affinity Scales, Data and Measurement, (Wiley 2010) p 51 ISBN 978-0-470-74957-9
^Cramer, R. E., and Bopp, T. T. (1977) Great E and C plot. Graphical display of the enthalpies of adduct formation for Lewis acids and bases. Journal of Chemical Education 54 612–613.doi:10.1021/ed054p612