Heterolytic and homolytic bond dissociation energies of the N-H bonds in Ylide precursors and properties of the corresponding nitrogen-centered radicals

It is well known that the reaction pattern and reactivity of Ylides are related to thestabilities of the corresponding organic anions and therefore to the pK_a values of theirprecursor molecules. However, water, the most commonly used medium for deriving theacidities for most inorganic acids, is not a good solvent for determining the pK_a’s of Ylide