Aminolysis of Y-substituted phenyl diphenylphosphinates and benzoates: effect of modification of electrophilic center from C=O to P=O

The effect of modification of the electrophilic center from C=O to P=O on reactivity and reaction mechanism has been investigated for aminolysis of Y-substituted phenyl diphenylphosphinates (1a-j) and benzoates (2a-i). The phosphinates 1a-j are less reactive than the benzoates 2a-i. The reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl diphenylphosphinate (1a) with alicyclic secondary amines resulted in a linear Br?nsted-type plot with a beta(nuc) value of 0.38, while the corresponding reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl benzoate (2a) yielded a curved Br?nsted-type plot. Similarly, a linear Br?nsted-type plot with a beta(lg) value of -0.66 was obtained for the reactions of 1a-j with piperidine, while the corresponding reactions of 2a-i gave a curved Br?nsted-type plot. The linear Br?nsted-type plots for the reactions of 1a-j have been taken as evidence for a concerted mechanism, while the curved Br?nsted-type plots for the reactions of 2a-i have been suggested to indicate a change in the rate-determining step of a stepwise mechanism. The Hammett plot for the reactions of 1b-j exhibited a poor correlation with sigma(-) constants (R(2) = 0.962) but slightly better correlation with sigma(o) (R(2) = 0.986). However, the Yukawa-Tsuno plot for the same reactions resulted in an excellent correlation (R(2) = 0.9993) with an r value of 0.30. The aminolysis of 1a-j has been suggested to proceed through a concerted mechanism with an early transition state on the basis of the small beta(nuc) and small r values.     

Reactions of [aryloxy(phenyl)carbene]pentacarbonylchromium(0) complexes with thiolate ions. Decreasing reactivity with increasing basicity of the nucleophile

A kinetic study of the reactions of thiolate ions with three Fischer-type [aryloxy(phenyl)carbene]pentacarbonyl chromium(0) complexes in 50% MeCN-50% water (v/v) is reported. Br?nsted plots of the second-order rate constants are biphasic with an initial steep rise for weakly basic thiolate ions (beta(nuc) approximately equal to 1.0) followed by a slightly descending leg with a negative slope (beta(nuc) approximately equal to -0.2) for strongly basic thiolate ions. This indicates a change from rate-limiting leaving group departure at low pK(RSH)(a) to rate-limiting nucleophilic attachment at high pK(RSH)(a). The negative beta(nuc) values result from a combination of minimal progress of C-S bond formation at the transition state and the requirement for partial desolvation of the nucleophile before it enters the transition state. Possible factors that may affect the degree of bond formation in reactions of Fischer carbene complexes as well as reactions of other unsaturated electrophiles with thiolate ions are discussed.     

Catalysis of hydrolysis and nucleophilic substitution at the P-N bond of phosphoimidazolide-activated nucleotides in phosphate buffers

Phosphoimidazolide-activated derivatives of guanosine and cytidine 5'-monophosphates, henceforth called ImpN's, exhibit enhanced rates of degradation in the presence of aqueous inorganic phosphate in the range 4.0 < or = pH < or = 8.6. This degradation is been attributed to (i) nucleophilic substitution of the imidazolide and (ii) catalysis of the P-N bond hydrolysis by phosphate. The first reaction results in the formation of nucleoside 5'-diphosphate and the second in nucleoside 5'-monophosphate. Analysis of the observed rates as well as the product ratios as a function of pH and phosphate concentration allow distinction between various mechanistic possibilities. The results show that both H2PO4- and HPO4(2-) participate in both hydrolysis and nucleophilic substitution. Statistically corrected biomolecular rate constants indicate that the dianion is 4 times more effective as a general base than the monoanion, and 8 times more effective as nucleophile. The low Bronsted value beta = 0.15 calculated for these phosphate species, presumed to act as general bases in facilitating water attack, is consistent with the fact that catalysis of the hydrolysis of the P-N bond in ImpN's has not been detected before. The beta nuc = 0.35 calculated for water, H2PO4-, HPO4(2-), and hydroxide acting as nucleophiles indicates a more associative transition state for nucleotidyl (O2POR- with R = nucleoside) transfers than that observed for phosphoryl (PO3(2-)) transfers (beta nuc = 0.25). With respect to the stability/reactivity of ImpN's under prebiotic conditions, our study shows that these materials would not suffer additional degradation due to inorganic phosphate, assuming the concentrations of phosphate, Pi, on prebiotic Earth were similar to those in the present oceans ([Pi] approximately 2.25 micromoles).     

Mechanisms of the oxidations of NAD(P)H model Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridines by nitric oxide and its donor N-methyl-N-nitrosotoluene-p-sulfonamide

4-Substituted derivatives of Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine were treated by nitric oxide (NO) or its donor N-methyl-N-nitrosotoluene-p-sulfonamide (MNTS) to give the corresponding pyridine derivatives. When the 4-substituted group was methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and aryl groups, it was preserved, but when the group was isopropyl or benzyl one, it was lost. 2,3-Dichloro-5, 6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) was used in place of NO and MNTS to react with the 4-substituted Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridines, no the corresponding 4-dealkyl Hantzsch pyridines were obtained from all the reactions. 1-Benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH), a close analogue of Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine (HEH), was used instead of HEH to react with either of NO and MNTS, no reactions were observed for 3 days. Replacement of HEH by N-d-HEH and HEH-4,4-d(2) to react with NO, MNTS and DDQ gave the observed kinetic isotope effects of 3.1 and 1.4 for NO, 1.1 and 1.3 for MNTS, and 1.1 and 2.1 for DDQ, respectively. When p-dinitrobenzene, an electron-transfer inhibitor, was added into the title reaction systems, no remarkable inhibitory effect was observed. These results indicated that the oxidation of HEH by NO was initiated by hydrogen transfer from the N(1)-position to give the corresponding aminyl radical, which then underwent homolytic cleavage to become the final aromatized product (A). But the reaction of HEH with MNTS was initiated by nitrosation to give the corresponding N-nitroso compound, which was subsequently subjected to two steps of homolytic cleavage to afford the aromatized Hantzsch pyridine A.     

The alpha-effect in reactions of sp-hybridized carbon atom: Michael-type reactions of 1-aryl-2-propyn-1-ones with primary amines

[reaction: see text] Second-order rate constants (kN) have been measured for the Michael-type reaction of 1-(X-substituted phenyl)-2-propyn-1-ones (2a-f) with a series of primary amines in H2O at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degree C. A linear Br?nsted-type plot with a small beta(nuc) value (beta(nuc) = 0.30) has been obtained for the reactions of 1-phenyl-2-propyn-1-one (2c) with non-alpha-nucleophile amines. Hydrazine is more reactive than other primary amines of similar basicity (e.g., glycylglycine and glycine ethyl ester) and results in a positive deviation from the linear Br?nsted-type plot. The reactions of 2a-f with hydrazine exhibit a linear Hammett plot, while those with non-alpha-nucleophile amines give linear Yukawa-Tsuno plots, indicating that the electronic nature of the substituent X does not affect the reaction mechanism. The alpha-effect increases as the substituent X in the phenyl ring of 2a-f becomes a stronger electron-donating group. However, the magnitude of the alpha-effect for the reactions of 2a-f is small (e.g., kN(hydrazine)/kN(glycylglycine) = 4.6-13) regardless of the electronic nature of the substituent X. The small beta(nuc) has been suggested to be responsible for the small alpha-effect. A solvent kinetic isotope effect (e.g., kN(H2O)/kN(D2O) = 1.86) was observed for the reaction with hydrazine but absent for the reactions with non-alpha-nucleophile amines. The reactions with hydrazine and other primary amines have been suggested to proceed through a five-membered intramolecular H-bonding structure VI and a six-membered intermolecular H-bonding structure VII, respectively. The transition state modeled on VI can account for the substituent dependent alpha-effect and the difference in the solvent kinetic isotope effect exhibited by the reactions with hydrazine and other primary amines. It has been proposed that the beta(nuc) value is more important than the hybridization type of the reaction site to determine the magnitude of the alpha-effect.     

A concerted mechanism for the transfer of the thiophosphinoyl group from aryl dimethylphosphinothioate esters to oxyanionic nucleophiles in aqueous solution

Earlier work on the hydrolysis of aryl phosphinothioate esters has led to contradictory mechanistic conclusions. To resolve this mechanistic ambiguity, we have measured linear free energy relationships (beta(nuc) and beta(lg)) and kinetic isotope effects for the reactions of oxyanions with aryl dimethylphosphinothioates. For the attack of nucleophiles on 4-nitrophenyl dimethylphosphinothioate, beta(nuc) = 0.47 +/- 0.05 for phenoxide nucleophiles (pK(a) < 11) and beta(nuc) = 0.08 +/- 0.01 for hydroxide and alkoxide nucleophiles (pK(a) >or= 11). Linearity of the plot in the range that straddles the pK(a) of the leaving group (4-nitrophenoxide, pK(a) 7.14) is indicative of a concerted mechanism. The much lower value of beta(nuc) for the more basic nucleophiles reveals the importance of a desolvation step prior to rate-limiting nucleophilic attack. The reactions of a series of substituted aryl dimethylphosphinothioate esters give the same value of beta(lg) with the nucleophiles HO(-) (beta= -0.54 +/- 0.03) and PhO(-) (beta = -0.52 +/- 0.09). A significantly better Hammett correlation is obtained with sigma(-) than with sigma or sigma degrees , as expected for a transition state involving rate-limiting cleavage of the P-OAr bond. The (18)O KIE at the position of bond fission ((18)k = 1.0124 +/- 0.0008) indicates the P-O bond is approximately 40% broken, and the (15)N KIE in the leaving group ((15)k = 1.0009 +/- 0.0003) reveals the nucleofuge carries about a third of a negative charge in the transition state. Thus, both the LFER and KIE data are consistent with a concerted reaction and disfavor a stepwise mechanism.     

Denitrosation of N-Nitrososulfonamide as Chemical Probe for Determination of Binding Constants to Cyclodextrins

The influence of β-CD concentration on the acid hydrolysis of N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide (MNTS) has been studied in the presence and absence of different alcohol concentrations. The rate of the denitrosation reaction in bulk water decrease as the β-CD concentration increases due to MNTS complexation in the CD cavity and the reaction taking place exclusively outside the cyclodextrin. Changes in this inhibition due to the presence of β-CD allow us to obtain the binding constants of different alcohols to the cyclodextrin. These binding constants are in very good agreement with those determined in the bibliography by other methods.     

EDTA and mixed-ligand complexes of tetravalent and trivalent plutonium

EDTA forms stable complexes with plutonium that are integral to nuclear material processing, radionuclide decontamination, and the potentially enhanced transport of environmental contamination. To characterize the aqueous Pu(4+/3+)EDTA species formed under the wide range of conditions of these processes, potentiometry, spectrophotometry, and cyclic voltammetry were used to measure solution equilibria. The results reveal new EDTA and mixed-ligand complexes and provide more accurate stability constants for previously identified species. In acidic solution (pH < 4) and at 1:1 ligand to metal ratio, PuY (where Y4- is the tetra-anion of EDTA) is the predominant species, with an overall formation constant of log beta110 = 26.44. At higher pH, the hydrolysis species, PuY(OH)- and PuY(OH)(2)2-, form with the corresponding overall stability constants log beta(11 - 1) = 21.95 and log beta(11 - 2) = 15.29. The redox potential of the complex PuY at pH = 2.3 was determined to be E(1/2) = 342 mV. The correlation between redox potential, pH, and the protonation state of PuY- was derived to estimate the redox potential of the Pu(4+/3+)Y complex as a function of pH. Under conditions of neutral pH and excess EDTA relative to Pu4+, PuY(2)4- forms with an overall formation constant of log beta120 = 35.39. In the presence of ancillary ligands, mixed-ligand complexes form, as exemplified by the citrate and carbonate complexes PuY(citrate)3- (log beta1101 = 33.45) and PuY(carbonate)2- (log beta1101 = 35.51). Cyclic voltammetry shows irreversible electrochemical behavior for these coordinatively saturated Pu4+ complexes: The reduction wave is shifted approximately -400 mV from the reduction wave of the complex PuY, while the oxidation wave is invariant.     

Kinetic model for reactivity in quaternary water-in-oil microemulsions

A study was carried out on the nitrosation of piperazine (PIP) and N-methylbenzylamine (MeBzAm) by N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide (MNTS) in quaternary microemulsions of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTABr)/isooctane/alcohol/water, varying the nature and the concentration of the following alcohols: 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol, 1-octanol and 1-decanol keeping the [1-alcohol]/[TTABr] = 4 relationship constant. In addition a study was carried out on the influence of the alcohol concentration, working with molar relationships [1-hexanol]/[TTABr]=3, 4 and 5. On the basis of the molar volumes of the alcohol and surfactant and the concentration of alcohol at the interface it was possible to calculate the change in its volume with as varying compositions of the microemulsion. In order to interpret the experimental results a kinetic model was devised which takes into account the distribution of the reactants between the different pseudophases and the change in the volume of the interface. The rate constants at the interface of the microemulsion are lower than in pure water and are independent of the nature of the alcohol used as a cosurfactant and the molar relationship [alcohol]/[TTABr]. This independence indicates that the main role of the cosurfactant is to increase the volume of the interface with the consequent dilution of the reactants.     

Study on the stability of noradrenaline and on the determination of its acidity constants

Noradrenaline is a catecholamine which has been largely recognised to play a very important role in biological systems. In view of the neurotransmitter's alleged importance, this work aimed at showing the influence of time on its spectral behaviour using different analytical methods and determining its acidity constants through spectrophotometric titration and by the so-called point-by-point analysis, where the samples are freshly prepared for each pH value investigated at the instant required. Because the catecholamines are light-sensitive and likely to react with the oxygen in the surrounding air, both methods used preclude its incidence onto the samples being analysed under the presence of a nitrogen atmosphere maintained over the solutions. The constants obtained through point-by-point analysis were log beta1 = 30.71+/-0.16, log beta2 = 22.00+/-0.15 and log beta3 = 11.69+/-0.16.     

Spectrophotometric and electrochemical determination of the formation constants of the complexes Curcumin-Fe(III)-water and Curcumin-Fe(II)-water

The formation of complexes among the Curcumin, Fe(III) and Fe(II) was studied in aqueous media within the 5-11 pH range by means of UV-Vis spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry. When the reaction between the Curcumin and the ions present in basic media took place, the resulting spectra of the systems Curcumin-Fe(III) and Curcumin-Fe(II) presented a similar behaviour. The cyclic voltammograms in basic media indicated that a chemical reaction has taken place between the Curcumin and Fe(III) before that of the formation of complexes. Data processing with SQUAD permitted to calculate the formation constants of the complexes Curcumin-Fe(III), corresponding to the species FeCur (lob beta110 = 22.25 +/- 0.03) and FeCur(OH)- (log beta111 = 12.14 +/- 0.03), while for the complexes Curcumin-Fe(II) the corresponding formation constants of the species FeCur- (log beta110 = 9.20 +/- 0.04), FeHCur (log beta111 = 19.76 +/- 0.03), FeH2Cur+ (log beta112 = 28.11 +/- 0.02).     

pKa-dependent formation of amides in water from an acyl phosphate monoester and amines

Acyl phosphate monoesters are readily prepared biomimetically activated anionic derivatives of carboxylic acids that react rapidly with amines in water to form amides. A plot of the logarithms of the rate constants for the reactions of a series of primary amines with benzoyl methyl phosphate depends on the pKa of the conjugate acids of the amines (beta(nuc) approximately 0.9). This provides a simple and quantitative basis for regioselective acylation with these reagents.     

On the complex formation equilibria between iron (III) and sulfate ions

The equilibria have been investigated at 25 degrees C in 3 M NaClO4 using potentiometry, glass and redox Fe3+/Fe2+ half-cells, and UV optical absorptiometry. The concentration of the reagents was chosen in the intervals: 10(-4) < or = [Fe(III)] < or = 5.10(-3) M, 0.01 < or = [SO4(2-)]tot < or = 0.65 M. The value of [H+] was kept at 0.1 M or more to reduce the hydrolysis of the Fe3+ ion to less than 1%. Auxiliary constants, corresponding to the formation of Fe(II)-sulfate complexes and to the association of H+ with SO4(2-) ions, were taken from previous determinations. The experimental data could be explained with the equilibria [formula: see text] Equilibrium constants at infinite dilution, log beta 101 degrees = 3.82 +/- 0.17, log beta 102 degrees = 5.75 +/- 0.17 and log beta 111 degrees = 3.68 +/- 0.35, have been evaluated by applying the specific interaction theory.     

Solvent effect on the alpha-effect: ground-state versus transition-state effects; a combined calorimetric and kinetic investigation

In a study of the solvent effect on the alpha-effect, second-order rate constants (kNu-) have been determined spectrophotometrically for reactions of a series of substituted phenyl acetates with butan-2,3-dione monoximate (Ox-, alpha-nucleophile) and p-chlorophenoxide (p-ClPhO-, reference nucleophile) in DMSO-H2O (DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide) mixtures of varying compositions at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C. The magnitude of the alpha-effect, kOx-/kp-ClPhO-, increases as the DMSO content in the medium increases up to 40-50 mol %, reaching 500, one of the largest alpha-effect values, and then decreases on further addition of DMSO, resulting in a bell-shaped alpha-effect profile regardless of the nature of the substrates. The magnitude of the alpha-effect is found to be significantly dependent on the substrates (or, more quantitatively, on beta(nuc)). Thus, beta(nuc) is an important predictor of the magnitude of the alpha-effect. The bell-shaped alpha-effect profile found in the present system is attributed to the differential change in the sensitivity of the medium effect on the Ox- and p-ClPhO- systems but not due to a change in the reaction mechanism or to a drastic change in the basicity of the two nucleophiles on addition of DMSO to the medium. Through application of calorimetric measurements of ground-state solvation combined with the diagnostic beta(nuc) values, it is shown that the transition-state effect is more dominant than the ground-state effect as the origin of the alpha-effect in the present system.     

Mononuclear cyano- and hydroxo-complexes of iron(III)

A detailed investigation of the iron(III)-cyanide and iron(III)-hydroxide systems has been made in NaClO(4) media at 25 degrees C, using combined UV-vis spectrophotometric and pH-potentiometric titrations. For the Fe(III)/OH- system, use of low total Fe(III) concentrations (< or =10 microM) and a wide pH range (0 < or = pH < or = 12.7) enabled detection of six mononuclear complexes, corresponding to the following equilibria: Fe3+(aq)+rH2O<=>Fe(OH)r(3-r)+(aq) + rH(+)(aq), where r = 1-6 with stability constants (log *beta 1r) of -2.66, -7.0, -12.5, -20.7, -30.8, and -43.4, respectively, at I = 1 M (NaClO(4)). It was also found to be possible to measure, for the first time, stability constants for most of the following equilibria: Fe3+(aq)+qCN-(aq)<=>Fe(CN)q(3-q)+(aq), despite a plethora of complicating factors. Values of log beta(1q) = 8.5, 15.8, 23.1, and 38.8 were obtained at I = 1.0 M (NaClO(4)) for q = 1-3 and 6, respectively. No reliable evidence could be obtained for the intermediate (q = 4 or 5) complexes. Similar results were obtained for both systems at I = 0.5 M(NaClO(4)). Spectra for the individual mononuclear complexes detected for Fe(III) with OH- and CN- are reported. Attempted measurements on the Fe(II)/CN- system were unsuccessful, but values of log beta(16)(Fe(CN)(6)(4-)) = 31.8 and log beta(15)(Fe(CN)(5)(3-) approximately 24 were estimated from well established electrode potential and other data.     

Spectrophotometric determination of phosphate ions with the system cerium(III)Arsenazo III

A new method for the spectrophotometric determination of PO(3-)(4), based on the conversion of the complex of cerium(III) with arsenazo III (CeH(4)R(-)) into CePO(4) is proposed and used for the indirect spectrophotometric determination of phosphorus in ferro-silicon. The reaction between Ce(III) and arsenazo III has been studied spectrophotometrically and the stability constants of the complex CeH(4)R(-) have been determined: log beta(1) = 6.42 +/- 0.10 (for pH 1-3) and log beta(1) = 6.11 +/- 0.02 (for pH 5.5-7).     

Reactivity and acid-base behavior of ring-methoxylated arylalkanoic acid radical cations and radical zwitterions in aqueous solution. Influence of structural effects and pH on the benzylic C-H deprotonation pathway

A product and time-resolved kinetic study of the one-electron oxidation of ring-methoxylated phenylpropanoic and phenylbutanoic acids (Ar(CH2)nCO2H, n = 2, 3) has been carried out at different pH values. Oxidation leads to the formation of aromatic radical cations (Ar.+(CH2)nCO2H) or radical zwitterions (Ar.+(CH2)nCO2-) depending on pH, and pKa values for the corresponding acid-base equilibria have been measured. In the radical cation, the acidity of the carboxylic proton decreases by increasing the number of methoxy ring substituents and by increasing the distance between the carboxylic group and the aromatic ring. At pH 1.7 or 6.7, the radical cations or radical zwitterions undergo benzylic C-H deprotonation as the exclusive side-chain fragmentation pathway, as clearly shown by product analysis results. At pH 1.7, the first-order deprotonation rate constants measured for the ring-methoxylated arylalkanoic acid radical cations are similar to those measured previously in acidic aqueous solution for the alpha-C-H deprotonation of structurally related ring-methoxylated alkylaromatic radical cations. In basic solution, the second-order rate constants for reaction of the radical zwitterions with (-)OH (k-OH)) have been obtained. These values are similar to those obtained previously for the (-)OH-induced alpha-C-H deprotonation of structurally related ring-methoxylated alkylaromatic radical cations, indicating that under these conditions the radical zwitterions undergo benzylic C-H deprotonation. Very interestingly, with 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethanoic acid radical zwitterion, that was previously observed to undergo exclusive decarboxylation up to pH 10, competition between decarboxylation and benzylic C-H deprotonation is observed above pH 11.     

Studies on fluorescein-VII The fluorescence of fluorescein as a function of pH

The relative fluorescence of fluorescein over the pH range 3-12 has been measured at 516 nm, with excitation at 489 nm. The relative fluorescence is essentially zero at pH 3, increases slowly between pH 4 and 5, rises rapidly between pH 6 and 7, reaches a maximum at pH 8, and remains constant at above pH 8. The curve of relative fluorescence as a function of pH lies somewhat above the corresponding curve describing the fraction of fluorescein present as the doubly charged anion, Fl(2-), indicating much weaker fluorescence of the singly charged anion, HFl(-), and very much weaker fluorescence by the neutral species, H(2)Fl. The fluorescence data have been used to calculate a value for the third dissociation constant. Because of the complexity of the system, one unknown dissociation constant and three (relative) fluorescence constants, a series of three variable regressions on the data was made. The final values were K(HFl) = 4.36 x 10(-7) (mu = 0.10) for the third dissociation constant and K(H(2)Fl) = 0.8; kappa(HFl) = 5.7; kappa(Fl) = 100.0 for the relative fluorescence constants.     

Change in rate-determining step in an E1cB mechanism during aminolysis of sulfamate esters in acetonitrile

The kinetics of the reactions of the nitrogen-sulfur(VI) esters 4-nitrophenyl N-methylsulfamate (NPMS) with a series of pyridines and a series of alicyclic amines and of 4-nitrophenyl N-benzylsulfamate (NPBS) with pyridines, alicyclic amines, and a series of quinuclidines have been investigated in acetonitrile (ACN) in the presence of excess amine at various temperatures. Pseudo-first-order rate constants (k(obsd)) have been obtained by monitoring the release of 4-nitrophenol/4-nitrophenoxide. From the slope of a plot of k(obsd) vs [amine], second-order rate constants (k'(2)) have been obtained for the pyridinolysis of NPMS, and a Br?nsted plot of log k'(2) vs pK(a) of pyridine gave a straight line with beta = 0.45. However, aminolysis with alicyclic amines of NPMS gave a biphasic Br?nsted plot (beta(1) = 0.6, beta(2) approximately equal to 0). Pyridinolysis and aminolysis with alicyclic amines and quinuclidines of NPBS also gave similar biphasic Br?nsted plots. This biphasic behavior has been explained in terms of a mechanistic change within the E1cB mechanism from an (E1cB)(irrev) (less basic amines) to an (E1cB)(rev) (more basic amines), and the change occurs at approximately the pK(a)'s (in ACN) of NPMS (17.94) and NPBS (17.68). The straight line Br?nsted plot for NPMS with pyridines occurs because the later bases are not strong enough to substantially remove the substrate proton and initiate the mechanistic change observed in the reaction of NPMS with the strong alicyclic amines and quinuclidines. An entropy study supports the change from a bimolecular to a unimolecular mechanism. This is the first clear demonstration of this E1cB mechanistic changeover involving a nitrogen acid substrate.