Is the tert-butyl chloride solvolysis the most misunderstood reaction in organic chemistry? Evidence against nucleophilic solvent participation in the tert-butyl chloride transition state and for increased hydrogen bond donation to the 1-adamantyl chloride solvolysis transition state.

Despite theoretical calculations to the contrary, it has been argued that the 1-adamantyl cation is more stable than the tert-butyl cation in media of high dielectric constant. This argument has been utilized to suggest that the higher rate of solvolysis of tert-butyl chloride in aqueous ethanol is evidence for nucleophilic solvent participation in this classic reaction. Further, in "more highly ionizing" solvents, the rate of 1-adamantyl chloride is nearly the same as that of tert-butyl chloride, which is interpreted as a manifestation of the relative stabilities of the cations. However, the evidence cited does not explain the increased sensitivity of the rate of solvolysis of 1-adamantyl chloride over tert-butyl chloride to solvents which are better able to donate hydrogen bonds. The hypothesis developed here is that 1-adamantyl chloride solvolysis is assisted by hydrogen bond donation departing chloride ion to a greater extent than that of tert-butyl chloride solvolysis, most likely due to lessened steric interactions in a developing pyramidal cation. This hypothesis is supported by multiparameter solvent effect factor analyses utilizing the KOMPH2 equation which, in addition, quantifies the important role of ground-state destabilization due to strong solvent-solvent interactions. An important result from the good correlation of free energies of transfer of the tert-butyl chloride solvolysis transition state is that there is no change in mechanism, and, in particular, no nucleophilic participation even in non-hydroxylic basic solvents. The equation is also applied to the case of dimethylsulfonium ion solvolyses where the tert-butyl salt reacts substantially faster than the 1-adamantyl salt in ethanol and the gas phase. The decreased rate of the former in hydrogen bond donating solvents relative to the gas phase is as yet unclear. Solvent N values that were generated to characterize solvent nucleophilicity are shown not to be correlated by measures of solvent basicity but rather by the negative of measures of solvent hydrogen bond donor ability.     

Influence of carbocation stability in the gas phase on solvolytic reactivity: beyond bridgehead derivatives

The intrinsic gas-phase stability of bicyclic secondary carbocations has been determined by Dissociative Proton Attachment of chlorides and alcohols, respectively. From these data, Gibbs free energies for hydride transfer relative to 1-adamantyl (Delta(r)G degrees (8,exp)) are derived after application of appropriate leaving group corrections, and good agreement with theoretical values, (Delta(r)G degrees (8,comp)), calculated at the G2(MP2) or MP2/6-311G(d,p) level, is reached (Table 1). The relative rate constants for solvolysis (log(k/k(0))) of the bicyclic secondary derivatives correlate with the stabilities of the respective carbocations in the same manner as tertiary bridgehead derivatives, but simple monoderivatives and acyclic derivatives solvolyze faster than predicted on the grounds of the ion stabilities. The corresponding stabilities of cyclopropyl- and benzyl-substituted carbocations have been obtained by a combination of experimental and computational data available in the literature with computational methods. Correlation of the rate constants for solvolysis vs ion stabilities for these compounds reveals a trend similar to that observed for bridgehead derivatives, but with much more scatter, which is attributed to nucleophilic solvent participation and/or nucleophilic solvation.     

Solvolysis-decomposition of 2-adamantyl chloroformate: evidence for two reaction pathways

Reaction of 2-adamantyl chloroformate under a variety of solvolytic conditions leads to 2-adamantyl chloride accompanied by solvolysis products, some with and some without retention of the CO(2) unit. For example, in 100% ethanol, only 4.8% 2-adamantyl chloride is formed with the mixed carbonate (88%) being the dominant product, and in 100% 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, the products are both formed with loss of CO(2), 59% of the chloride and 41% of the ether. With exclusion of the specific rates in 100% and 90% ethanol and methanol, a good Grunwald-Winstein plot against Y(Cl) values (solvent ionizing power) is obtained, with a slope of 0.47 +/- 0.03. The results are compared with those reported earlier for 1-adamantyl chloroformate and isopropyl chloroformate and mechanistic conclusions are drawn.     

The solvolysis of 1− and 3-homoadamantyl-p-nitrobenzoates in acetonitrile-water (70:30 by weight)

The solvolysis rates of t.butyl, 1-adamantyl, 3? and 1-homoadamantyl-p-nitrobenzoates in acetonitrile-water (70:30 by weight) are reported and the relative rates are discussed. These are the first solvolysis constants for 1? or 3-homoadamantyl esters of definitely known structure.     

Correlation of the rates of solvolysis of 2-phenyl-2-ketoethyl bromide and tosylate

[reaction: see text] The extended Grunwald-Winstein equation has been applied to the specific rates of solvolysis of 2-phenyl-2-ketoethyl bromide and tosylate and the correlation parameters are consistent with an S(N)2 mechanism over the full range of solvents. The k(OTs)/k(Br) ratios are close to unity, consistent with this assignment. Comparisons with the specific rates of solvolysis of 2-phenylethyl bromide and methyl tosylate show only a modest influence upon introduction of the carbonyl group.     

Charge dispersal in 1- and 2-adamantyl cations

Substituents at the remoter 5-position of 2-adamantyl arylsulfonates control solvolysis rates more strongly than substituents at the 4-position.     

Intrinsic (gas phase) thermodynamic stability of 2-adamantyl cation. Its bearing on the solvolysis rates of 2-adamantyl derivatives

The standard enthalpy of formation of gaseous 2-adamantyl chloride(2-Ad-Cl) was determined by calorimetric techniques. The standard Gibbs energy change for the chloride anion exchange between 1-adamantyl (1-Ad+) and 2-adamantyl (2-Ad+) cations in the gas phase was obtained by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy (FT ICR). Theoretical calculations at the G2(MP2) level were performed on these and other relevant species. This and data from the literature provided three highly consistent independent estimates of the relative stabilities of 2-Ad+ and 1-Ad+. This difference in gas-phase stability was compared to the differential structural effects on the rates of solvolysis of the corresponding chlorides and tosylates, and it was shown that the thermodynamic stability of the secondary cation is the leading factor determining the solvolytic reactivity of the precursors in the absence of solvent effects. Thus, under these conditions, the previously established linear free energy correlation between carbenium ion stability and solvolytic reactivity of bridgehead derivatives applies also to secondary derivatives.     

When does an intermediate become a transition state? Degenerate isomerization without competing racemization during solvolysis of (S)-1-(3-nitrophenyl)ethyl tosylate

(S)-1-(3-Nitrophenyl)ethyl tosylate [(S)-2-OTs] was prepared in >99% enantiomeric excess and the change in the chiral purity of this compound was monitored during solvolysis in 50:50 trifluoroethanol/water. The barely detectable formation of 0.5% (R)-2-OTs after two half times for the solvolysis reaction was used to calculate a rate constant of k(rac) approximately equal to 4 x 10-6 s-1. This is 80-fold smaller than kiso = 3.2 x 10-4 s-1 for the isomerization that exchanges oxygen-16 and oxygen-18 of 3-NO2C6H413CH(Me)OS(18O)2Tos during solvolysis and 10-fold smaller than the minimum value of k(rac) = 4.6 x 10-5 s-1 predicted if isomerization and racemization products form by partitioning of a common ion-pair intermediate of a stepwise reaction. It is concluded that the isomerization reaction proceeds mainly by a pathway that avoids formation of this putative intermediate. It is suggested that the solvolysis reaction of 2-OTs may proceed by a stepwise preassociation mechanism where solvent "reorganization" precedes substrate ionization to form an ion-pair intermediate.     

The importance of steric bulk and acidity in solvolysis. The mechanism of solvolysis of 1-adamantyl bromide

Product selectivities from solvolysis of 1-adamantyl bromide in several binary protic solvents are revealing about the relative importance of solvent acidity and bulk     

Herstellung und Solvolyse von 3-substituierten p-Toluolsulfonsäure-(1-adamantyl)estern

The Preparation and Solvolysis of 3-substituted 1-Adamantyl Toluenesulfonates Methods for the preparation of some hitherto unknown 3-iubstitutetl 1-adamantyl toluenesulfonates are evaluated. Their solvolysis products in dioxane/water 70:30 are reported.     

Structural effects on the solvolytic reactivity of carboxylic and sulfonic acid chlorides. Comparisons with gas-phase data for cation formation

Kinetic data for solvolyses of 28 acid chlorides in 97% w/w trifluoroethanol (TFE)-water spanning over 10 (9) in rate constant at 25 degrees C are obtained directly or by short extrapolation from published values. G3 calculations of the energy required for cation formation in the gas phase are validated from proton affinities and from other experimental data. G3 calculations of heterolytic bond dissociation enthalpies (HBDEs) for formation of cations from acid chlorides in the gas phase show the following trends when compared with the solvolysis rate constants: (i) electron-rich sulfonyl chlorides and most carboxylic acid chlorides, including thione derivatives, give a satisfactory linear correlation with a significant negative slope; (ii) most sulfonyl chlorides and some chloroformates and thio derivatives have higher HBDEs and fit another correlation with a small, negative slope. A significant deviation is observed for the acyl series (RCOCl), for which both solvolysis rates and HBDEs increase in the order R = Bu ( t ) < Pr ( i ) < Et < Me. The deviation may be explained either by a prior hydration mechanism or preferably by electrostatic effects on the formation of small cations. The above results of structural effects support independent evidence from solvent effects that cationic ionization reaction pathways (with nucleophilic solvent assistance or S N2 character) are involved in the solvolyses of acid chlorides.     

Correlation of the rates of solvolysis of benzoyl fluoride and a consideration of leaving-group effects

The specific rates of solvolysis of benzoyl fluoride have been determined at 25.0 degrees C in 37 pure and binary solvents. Together with seven values from the literature, these give a satisfactory correlation over the full range of solvents when the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation is applied. The sensitivities to changes in solvent nucleophilicity and solvent ionizing power are very similar to those for octyl fluoroformate, suggesting that the addition step of an addition-elimination mechanism is rate determining. In the solvent-composition region where benzoyl chloride also shows bimolecular solvolysis, the appreciable k(Cl)/k(F) values are proposed as being primarily due to a more efficient ground-state stabilization for the fluoride.     

Influence of alkyl substitution on the gas-phase stability of 1-adamantyl cation and on the solvent effects in the solvolysis of 1-bromoadamantane

1-Adamantyl cations having three methyl groups or one, two, or three isopropyl groups on the 3-, 5-, and 7-positions were found by FT ICR to be more stable than the 1-adamantyl cation and that the stability increases with the number of isopropyl group. The relative stabilities calculated by PM3 were in good agreement with the experimental results. In contrast, the sequence of the rates for the solvolysis in nonaqueous solvents are 3,5,7-(Me)(3)-1-AdBr < 1-bromoadamantane (1-AdBr) < 3,5,7-(n-Pr)(3)-1-AdBr < 3,5,7-(i-Pr)(3)-1-AdBr. The rates of solvolysis of 3,5,7-(i-Pr)(3)-1-AdBr and 3,5,7-(n-Pr)(3)-1-AdBr relative to 1-AdBr at 25 degrees C are 15 and 3.8 in EtOH, respectively, but markedly decreases with the increase in the amount of added water, reaching 0.84 and 0.15, respectively, in 60% EtOH. Reflecting these effects of water, the Grunwald-Winstein (GW) relationship for 3,5,7-(i-Pr)(3)-1-AdBr and 3,5,7-(n-Pr)(3)-1-AdBr against Y(Br) is linear for nonaqueous alcohols (EtOH, MeOH, TFE-EtOH, TFE, 97% HFIP), but marked downward deviations are observed for aqueous organic solvents, in particular, aqueous ethanol and aqueous acetone. The effect of the alkyl substituents to diminish relative solvolytic reactivity in EtOH-H(2)O mixtures may be ascribed to a blend of steric hindrance to Betarphinsted base-type hydration to the beta-hydrogens and hydrophobic interaction of the alkyl groups with ethanol to make the primary solvation shell less ionizing. The introduction of one nonyl group to the 3-position showed much smaller deviations in the GW relationship than the case of 3,5,7-(n-Pr)(3)-1-AdBr. The markedly decelerated solvolysis of alkylated 1-bromoadamantanes in aqueous organic solvents is a kinetic version of anomalously diminished dissociation of alkylbenzoic acids in aqueous ethanol and aqueous tert-butyl alcohol that was demonstrated by Wepster and co-workers a decade ago and ascribed to hydrophobic effects.     

Solvent Dependence of Inductivity in the Solvolyses of Substituted Norbornyl p-Toluenesulfonates. Norbornanes,Part 14

A comparison of the solvolysis rates of the substituted 2-exo- and 2-endo -norbornyl p-toluenesulfonates 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the substituted 1- and 2-adamantyl sulfonates 9 and 10 , respectively, in 80% ethanol and 97% trifluoroethanol has shown that the sensitivity of rates to the I-effect of substituents, i.e. the inductivity of these compounds, varies strongly with structure, configuration and solvent. In 97% trifluoro-ethanol, a solvent of low nucleophilicity and high ionizing power, the inductivities of the 2-endo-norbornyl p-toluenesulfonates 2 and 4 as well as the inductivities of the adamantyl derivatives 9 and 10 were larger than in 80% ethanol. In contrast, the inductivity of the 2-exo-norbornyl p-toluenesulfonates 1 was practically unchanged. It was, therefore, concluded that the transition states for the former compounds are not, or only weakly, bridged, whereas the transition states for the 2-exo-norbornyl p-tolu-enesulfonates 1 involve graded bridging by C (6). These results confirm that, due to differential bridging strain, 2-norbornyl cations are anisotropic to polar effects.     

Kinetics and product distribution of 1-adamantyl picrate heterolysis in acetonitrile in the presence of triphenylverdazyls

The reaction of triphenylverdazyls with strong acids in acetonitrile in the presence of salts with chloride anion is reversible. The observed rate of the heterolysis of 1-adamantyl picrate in the presence of triphenylverdazyls does not depend on the substituent in the latter and its concentration. The contribution of the verdazyl alkylation pathway is minor, the indicator is consumed mainly in the reaction with the acid liberated from the solvolysis. Thus, triphenylverdazyls are not indicators for the solvent-separated ion pairs.     

Ion-Neutral complexes from protonated propyl phenyl ethers. Gas-phase solvolysis versus elimination-readdition

Ion-neutral complexes, well attested as intermediates in the expulsion of alkenes from M⁺? and MH⁺ ions from primary alkyl phenyl ethers, are shown to intervene in the decomposition of the MH⁺ ion of a secondary alkyl phenyl ether, (CD₃)₂CHOPh. Chemical ionization (CI) (methane reagent gas)-mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectroscopy (MIKES) shows ions of both m/z 96 and 97, indicating that the proton deposited by the CI reagent exchanges with the methyl deuterium atoms. The ratio of daughter ion intensities, as well as the proportions of ions of m/z 95, 96 and 97 from the MH⁺ of CD₃CH₂CD₂OPh, agree with predictions based on the gas-phase solvolysis mechanism, in which [i-Pr⁺ PhOH] complexes form from the protonated parent via simple bond heterolysis. An alternative mechanism, elimination-readdition, would proceed via [propene PhOHD⁺] complexes. This latter mechanism predicts a ratio of daughter ion intensities that is very different from gas-phase solvolysis and which disagrees with experiment. The elimination-readdition pathway is effectively ruled out, while the gas-phase solvolysis mechanism is reinforced.     

Dynamics for reaction of an ion pair in aqueous solution: reactivity of carboxylate anions in bimolecular carbocation-nucleophile addition and unimolecular ion pair collapse

[reaction: see text]. The sum of the rate constants for solvolysis and 18O-scrambling of 4-MeC6H4(13)CH(Me)18OC(O)C6F5 in 50/50 (v/v) trifluoroethanol/water, k(solv) + k(iso) = 1.22 x 10(-5) s(-1), is larger than k(solv) = 1.06 x 10(-5) s(-1) for solvolysis of the unlabeled ester. This shows that the ion pair intermediate undergoes significant internal return. The data give k(-1) = 7 x 10(9) s(-1) for internal return by unimolecular collapse of the ion pair, which is significantly larger than k(Nu) = 5 x 10(8) M(-1) x s(-1) for bimolecular nucleophilic addition of carboxylate anions to 4-MeC6H4CH(Me)+.     

Synthesis and characterization of aliphatic alpha-dithiones, di(1-adamantyl)- and di-tert-butylethanedithiones

2,3-Di(1-adamantyl)thiirene 1-oxide quickly reacted with Lawesson's reagent in CH2Cl2 at room temperature to provide di(1-adamantyl)ethanedithione (1) as thermally labile, violet crystals in 20% isolated yield. The use of CS2 as the solvent gave 1 in 46% isolated yield. The reaction in the presence of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate furnished dimethyl 4,5-di(1-adamantyl)-2,3-thiophenedicarboxylate in 51% yield. A tentative mechanism for the formation of 1 is proposed on the basis of the experimental observations. The structure of 1 was characterized on the basis of spectroscopic data (NMR, mass, IR, Raman, and UV/vis) and DFT calculations. 1 rearranged to 3,4-di(1-adamantyl)-1,2-dithiete quantitatively with kinetic parameters of DeltaH = 17.6 +/- 0.2 kcal mol-1, DeltaS = -23.0 +/- 0.7 cal K-1 mol-1, and DeltaG = 24.4 +/- 0.4 kcal mol-1. Peracid oxidation and Pt-complex formation of 1 are also reported.     

Correlation of the rates of solvolysis of cyclopropylcarbinyl and cyclobutyl bromides using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation

The reactions of cyclopropylcarbinyl bromide (1) and cyclobutyl bromide (2) in hydroxylic solvents proceed with both solvolysis and rearrangement. Depending on the solvent, the reactions of 1 are 10-120 times faster than those of 2, and both are faster than the previously studied allylcarbinyl bromide (3). Specific rates are reported for the reactions of 2 proceeding to solvolysis products and 3. Reactions of 1 proceed to solvolysis products and both 2 and 3; since 2 slowly undergoes further solvolysis, specific rates are obtained by a modified Guggenheim treatment. The two sets of specific rates are analyzed using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation to give sensitivities toward changes in solvent nucleophilicity of 0.42 for 1 and 0.53 for 2 and corresponding sensitivities toward changes in solvent ionizing power of 0.75 and 0.94. A mechanism is proposed involving a rate-determining ionization with an appreciable nucleophilic solvation of the incipient carbocation.     

Evidence for different types of water participation in the solvolysis of 1-adamantyl, tert-butyl, and methyl chlorides from density functional theory computations

[structure: see text] The activation energy in the gas phase (deltaE(double dagger)) and the free energy of activation (deltaG(double dagger)) in water solution for the hydrolysis of the monohydrates of methyl chloride (MeCl), tert-butyl chloride (t-BuCl), and 1-adamantyl chloride (AdCl) have been computed with the B3LYP/631-G(d) method and the polarizable continuum (PCM) solvation model. There is a fair agreement between the deltaG(double dagger) values computed by us and the experimental data. The mechanistic implications of our computations are in severe contradiction with conventional representations. Thus, the computed nucleophilic solvent assistance (NSA) for the backside attack of a water molecule in the hydrolysis of MeCl is slightly lower than the corresponding NSA for t-BuCl. Hence, the hydrolysis of both MeCl and t-BuCl takes place mainly according to the classical S(N)2 mechanism. The most relevant difference is that deltaG(double dagger) for the frontside attack of water to t-BuCl is disfavored only by ca. 2 kcal/mol with regard to the backside attack but by ca. 23 kcal/mol in the case of MeCl. The higher solvolysis rate in water of t-BuCl in relation to AdCl is not due to steric factors affecting the specific solvation of the corresponding transition states, but to differential bulk solvent effects, which are accounted for by the PCM model.