Solvolysis of 2-aryl-exo-5,6-trimethylene-2-norbornyl p-nitrobenzoates as a reference of 2-aryl-2-norbornyl p-nitrobenzoates solvolysis: Further evidence for the unimportance of σ-participation in the solvolysis of 2-aryl-2-norbornyl derivatives

The rates of solvolysis of 2 - aryl - exo - 5,6 - trimethylene - exo - and endo - 2 - norbornyl p-nitrobenzoates (7 and 8, respectively) with representative substituents p-CH₃O, p-CH₃, H, m-CF₃, p-CF₃, and 3,5-(CF₃)₂] were determined in 80% aqueous acetone and compared with those of the parent 2-aryl-exo- and endo-2-norbornyl p-nitrobenzoates (5 and 6, respectively). The rate ratios for the endo-p-nitrobenzoates ($\text{6}\text{8}$) are essentially constant and close to unity for these substituents, indicating that the perturbation of the trimethylene bridge toward the C₂-position is virtually negligilbe. The rate ratios for the exo-p-nitrobenzoates ($\text{5}\text{7}$) can also be regarded as invariant over the reactivity range studied. The exo/endo rate ratios ($\text{7}\text{8}$) are 246 (p-CH₃O), 196 (P-CH₃), 129 (H), 80 (m-CF₃), 90 (p-CF₃), and 89 3,5-(CF₃)₂], being similar to the corresponding $\text{5}\text{6}$ rate ratios. The solvolyses of these p-nitrobenzoates (7 and 8) afford predominantly ( > 97%) exo-alcohols. Since the secondary exo-5,6-trimethylene-2-norbornyl system, with its low exo/endo rate ratio, 11.2, is known to solvolyse without significant σ-participation, the tertiary derivatives should also undergo solvolysis without σ-participation. Consequently, the similarities in the solvolytic behaviors between the two systems (5 vs 7; 6 vs 8) strongly support the previous conclusion that σ-participation is unimportant in the solvolysis of 5.