Abstract
A theoretical treatment is given of the connection between the structure and the position of a substituent S and the value of σs, from the Hammett equation: log ks/ko = ρ · σs. The theory is based on a wave mechanical calculation of the effect of S on the localisation energy of a reaction. The equations derived make it possible to calculate σs, for a large number of substituents from known values of bond lengths and bond moments.The calculations are carried out for a number of different reaction types, which are representative of a large number of reactions. The mean deviation of the theoretical values of σ from the experimental values amounts to ±0.07; the agreement reached is of the same order, therefore, as the experimentally found deviations from Hammett's equation.