Calculated polar substituent effects on the stability of 3‐substituted(X) bicyclo[1.1.1]pent‐1‐yl cations and 4‐substituted(X) bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐1‐yl cations: a DFT study

The effects of substituents on the stability of 3‐substituted(X) bicyclo[1.1.1]pent‐1‐yl cations (3) and 4‐substituted(X) bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐1‐yl cations (4), for a set of substituents (X = H, NO₂, CN, NC, CF₃, CHO, COOH , F, Cl, HO, NH₂, CH₃, SiH₃, Si(CH₃)₃, Li, O^?, and NH₃⁺) covering a wide range of electronic substituent effects were calculated using the DFT theoretical model at the B3LYP/6‐311 + G(2d,p) and B3LYP/6‐31 + G (d) levels of theory, respectively. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between the calculated relative hydride affinities (ΔE, kcal/mol) of the appropriate isodesmic reactions for 3/4 and polar field/group electronegativity substituent constants (σ_F and σ_χ, respectively). The analysis reveals that the ΔE values for both systems are best described by a combination of both substituent constants. The result highlights the importance of the σ_χ dependency of charge delocalization in these systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transmission of polar substituent effects across the cubane ring system: 19F substituent chemical shifts (SCS) of 4‐substituted (X) cub‐1‐yl fluorides revisited

¹⁹F NMR shieldings of 4‐substituted (X) cub‐1‐yl fluorides ( 4 ) for a set of substituents (X?H, NO₂, CN, NC, CF₃, COOH, F, Cl, HO, NH₂, CH₃, Si(CH₃)₃, Li, O^? and NH) covering a wide range of electronic substituent effects were calculated using the DFT‐GIAO theoretical model. The level of theory, B3LYP/6‐311+G(2d,p), provided ¹⁹F substituent chemical shifts (SCS) in good agreement with experimental values where known. By means of NBO analysis, various molecular parameters were obtained from the optimized geometries. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between the calculated ¹⁹F SCS and polar field, resonance and group electronegativity substituent constants (σ_F, σ_R and σ_x, respectively) and also the NBO derived molecular parameters (fluorine natural charges (Q_n), electron occupancies on fluorine of lone pairs (n_F) and occupation number of the C? F antibonding orbital (σ_CF*)). The key determining parameters appear to be n_F and σ_CF*(occup). Both factors are a function of the electrostatic field influence of the substituent (σ_F effect) but are counteractive in their influence on the shifts. No evidence for a significant resonance effect influence on the shifts could be identified. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A DFT‐GIAO and DFT‐NBO study of polar substituent effects on NMR 17O chemical shifts in some rigid polycyclic alkanes

¹⁷O NMR shieldings of 3‐substituted(X)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentan‐1‐ols ( 1 , Y = OH), 4‐substituted(X)bicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐1‐ols ( 2 , Y = OH), 4‐substituted(X)‐bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐1‐ols ( 3 , Y = OH), 4‐substituted(X)‐cuban‐1‐ols ( 4 , Y = OH) and exo‐ and endo‐ 6‐substituted(X)exo‐bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐ols ( 5 and 6 , Y = OH, respectively), as well as their conjugate bases ( 1 – 6 , Y = O^?), for a set of substituents (X = H, NO₂, CN, NC, CF₃, COOH, F, Cl, OH, NH₂, CH₃, SiMe₃, Li, O^?, and NH) covering a wide range of electronic substituent effects were calculated using the DFT‐GIAO theoretical model at the B3LYP/6‐311 + G(2d, p) level of theory. By means of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis various molecular parameters were obtained from the optimized geometries. Linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between the calculated ¹⁷O SCS and polar field and group electronegativity substituent constants (σ_F and σ_χ, respectively) and also the NBO derived molecular parameters (oxygen natural charge, Q_n, occupation numbers of the oxygen lone pairs, n_o, and occupancy of the C? O antibonding orbital, σ*_CO(occup)). In the case of the alcohols ( 1 – 6 , Y = OH) the ¹⁷O SCS appear to be governed predominantly by the σ_χ effect of the substituent. Furthermore, the key determining NBO parameters appear to be n_o and σ*_CO(occup). Unlike the alcohols, the calculated ¹⁷O SCS of the conjugate bases ( 1 – 6 , Y = O^?), except for system 1 , do not respond systematically to the electronic effects of the substituents. An analysis of the SCS of 1 (Y = O^?) raises a significant conundrum with respect to their origin. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substituent effect investigation of 3‐(2, 4‐dichlorophenyl)‐1‐(4′‐X‐phenyl)‐2‐propen‐1‐one. Part 1. Correlation analysis of 13C NMR chemical shifts

A series of substituted chlorinated chalcones namely, 3‐(2,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐1‐(4′‐X‐phenyl)‐2‐propen‐1‐one, have been synthesized, X being H, NH₂, OMe, Me, F, Cl, CO₂Et, CN, and NO₂. Dual substituent parameter (DSP) models of ¹³C NMR chemical shift (CS) have revealed that π‐polarization concept could be utilized to explain the reverse field effect at CO, the enhanced substituent field effect at CO, C‐2, and C‐5, and the decreased sensitivity of substituent field effect at C‐6. Chlorine atoms dipole direction at the benzylidene ring either enhances or reduces substituent effect depending on how they couple with the substituent dipole at the probe site. The correlation of ¹³C NMR CS of C‐2, C‐5, and C‐6 with σ and σ indicates that chlorine atoms in the benzylidine ring deplete the ring from charges. Both MSP of Hammett and DSP of Taft ¹³C NMR CS models give similar trends of substituent effects at C‐2, C‐5, and C‐6. However, the former fail to give a significant correlation for CO and C‐6 ¹³C NMR CS. MSP of σ_q and DSP of Taft and Reynolds models significantly correlated ¹³C NMR CS of C_β. MSP of σ_q fails to correlate C‐1′ ¹³C NMR CS. Investigation of ¹³C NMR CS of non‐chlorinated chalcones series: 3‐phenyl‐1‐(4′‐X‐phenyl)‐2‐propen‐1‐one has revealed similar trends of substituent effects as in the chlorinated chalcones series for C‐1′, CO, C_α, and C_β. In contrast, the substituent effect of the non‐chlorinated chalcone series at C‐2, C‐5, and C‐6 did not correlate with any substituent constant. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of ortho‐substituents in SE1 protonolysis of phenylmercuric chloride

The kinetics of the reactions of o‐substituted phenylmercuric chlorides, o‐RC₆H₄HgCl (R = CH₃, H, C₂H₅O, CH₃O, C₆H₅, F, COOC₂H₅, Cl, Br, CF₃, NO₂), with hydrochloric acid in 80% aqueous dioxane in the presence of NaI were studied. The reactions are of the first order. The rate constant at 40°C decreases in the order of R: CH₃ > H > C₂H₅O > CH₃O > C₆H₅ > F > COOC₂H₅ > Cl > Br > CF₃ > NO₂. The analysis of effects of those o‐substitutes is carried out through multiple regression of log k/k_H with the corresponding inductive substituent constants σ_I and the various resonance substituent constants σ, σ_R(BA), σ, σ and σ_x, and the corresponding Swain–Lupton field effect constant and resonance effect constant . The results showed that o‐substituent intramolecular coordination with the neighbor mercury (field effect) is the main effect in effects of o‐substituents on rate of the S_E1 protonolysis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of ortho substituents on carbonyl carbon 13C NMR chemical shifts in substituted phenyl benzoates

¹³C NMR spectra of 37 ortho‐, meta‐, and para‐substituted phenyl benzoates, containing substituents in benzoyl and phenyl moiety, 4 ortho‐substituted methyl and 5 ethyl benzoates as well as 9 R‐substituted alkyl benzoates have been recorded. The influence of the ortho substituents on the carbonyl carbon ¹³C NMR chemical shift, δ_CO, was found to be described by a linear multiple regression equation containing the inductive, σ_I, resonance, σ°_R, and steric, E, or υ substituent constants. For all the ortho‐substituted esters containing substituents in the acyl part as well as the phenyl part, the substituent‐induced reverse inductive effect (ρ_I < 0), the normal resonance effect (ρ_R > 0), and the negative steric effect (δ_ortho < 0) with the E were observed. In the case of ortho substituents in the phenyl part, the resonance effect was negligible. Due to inductive effect, the ortho electron‐withdrawing substituents showed an upfield shift or shielding of the carbonyl carbon, while the electron‐donating substituents had an opposite effect. Because of the sterical consequences, ortho substituents revealed a deshielding effect on the ¹³C NMR chemical shift of the carbonyl carbon. For all the meta‐ and para‐substituted esters, the reverse substituent‐induced inductive and resonance effects (ρ_I < 0, ρ_R < 0) were found to be significant. In alkyl benzoates, the alkyl substituents showed the reverse inductive and steric effects. The log k values for the alkaline hydrolysis in water, aqueous 0.5 M Bu₄NBr and 2.25 M Bu₄NBr, and the IR frequencies, ν_CO, for the ortho‐, meta‐, and para‐substituted phenyl benzoates and alkyl benzoates were correlated nicely with the corresponding ¹³C NMR substituent chemical shifts, Δδ_CO. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of ortho substituents on 17O NMR chemical shifts in phenyl esters of substituted benzoic acids

¹⁷O NMR spectra for 29 phenyl esters of ortho‐, para,‐ and meta‐substituted benzoic acids, X‐C₆H₄CO₂C₆H₅, at natural abundance in acetonitrile were recorded. The δ(¹⁷O) values of carbonyl and the single‐bonded oxygens for para derivatives gave good correlation with the σ⁺ constants. The δ(¹⁷O) values for meta derivatives correlated well with the σ_m constants. The influence of ortho substituents on the δ(¹⁷O) values of carbonyl oxygen and the single‐bonded oxygens was analyzed using the Charton equation containing the inductive, σ_I, resonance, σ⁺_R, and steric, E, substituent constants. For ortho derivatives, excellent correlations with the Charton equation were obtained when the data treatment was performed separately for derivatives containing electron‐donating +R and electron‐attracting ?R substituents. The electron‐donating substituents in ortho‐, meta‐, and para‐substituted esters resulted in shielding of the ¹⁷O signal and the electron‐withdrawing groups caused deshielding. In phenyl ortho‐substituted benzoates, the substituent‐induced positive inductive (ρ_I > 0), resonance (ρ_R > 0), and steric (δ_orthoE > 0) effects were found. The steric interaction of ortho substituents with ester group was found to produce a deshielding effect on the carbonyl and single‐bonded oxygens. For ortho derivatives with ?R substituents, the resonance term was insignificant and the steric term was ca. twice weaker as compared to that for derivatives with +R substituents. The δ(¹⁷O) values for ortho‐substituted nitrobenzenes, acetophenones, and benzoyl chlorides showed a good correlation with the Charton equation as well. In ortho‐substituted nitrobenzenes the inductive, resonance and steric effect were found to be ca. 1.7 times stronger as compared to that for phenyl ortho‐substituted benzoates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction pathway of aliphatic pinacol‐type rearrangement reexamined

Pinacol rearrangement is often written to proceed via 1,2‐Me migration to the tertiary cationic center, followed by deprotonation to give pinacolone. Computational study was carried out for model reactions to clarify why the migration of the OH group is not involved in the mechanistic scheme despite the fact that OH is a better migrating group than Me. It was found that the migratory aptitude of X in both XCMe₂‐CH₂Cl and XCMe₂‐CMe₂Cl is in the order, NH₂ > OMe > Ph > Me, indicating that a migrating group with n‐electrons has a larger aptitude than a π‐ or σ‐electron group. However, the reactivity differences became much smaller for XCMe₂‐CMe₂OMe, a model compound for aliphatic pinacol rearrangement. Calculations of MeOCMe₂‐CMe₂OMe revealed that three initial ionization steps, C? O heterolysis, concerted OMe migration and concerted Me migration, compete with each other. On the other hand, the ring‐opening step of the epoxide‐type intermediate formed via OMe migration was shown to have quite a large activation barrier. It was suggested that aliphatic pinacol rearrangement proceeds via the concerted Me migration route or the C? O heterolysis‐Me migration‐deprotonation route. Epoxide may form by the concerted MeO migration, but it would not be an important intermediate of pinacol rearrangement. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Remarkable emissions in diprotonated 2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine derivatives

A series of new metal‐free blue emission compounds, i.e., diprotonated terpyH₂ClPF₆ ( 1 ), tterpyH₂ClPF₆ ( 2 ), ClterpyH₂ClPF₆ ( 3 ), and BterpyH₂(PF₆)₂ ( 4 ), were prepared and characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, UV–vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Abbreviations used are terpy = 2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine, tterpy = 4′‐(4‐tolyl)‐2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine, Clterpy = 4′‐chloro‐2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine, and Bterpy = 4,4′,4″‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine. The X‐ray crystal structures of the three new compounds 1, 2, and 4 were determined. Both protonated pyridine rings of the terpyridine derivatives are hydrogen bonded intermolecularly to the adjacent Cl^? ion in compounds 1 , 2, and 3 . The π–π* absorption bands in the UV region for 1, 2, 3, and 4 in acetonitrile were red‐shifted relative to those of the corresponding neutral compounds. All the compounds exhibited stronger emissions (around 400 nm) than their neutral counterparts. All the CVs for the diprotonated species, terpyH, tterpyH, ClterpyH, and BterpyH, showed the first reduction waves around ?0.6 V, which were more positive than those of the neutral ones. Density functional theory was applied to interpret the remarkable differences in the interaction of the Cl^? ion. The attachment of two protons to the two terminal Bterpy nitrogens in 4 elicits remarkable characteristics. Both positive charges on the nitrogens are delocalized over the conjugated pyridine systems and the tertiary carbonium ions are stabilized to lead to stronger emission (Φ = 0.35) than the corresponding neutral Bterpy (Φ = 0.045). CCDC 732045–732047 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data can be obtained free of charge from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using photoelectron spectroscopy for the investigation of substituent effects in N‐ and P‐centered radical cations

The information concerning the peculiarities of the intramolecular interactions in the radical cations which is currently available is very sketchy. In this work, a new approach to the investigation of the substituent effects in N‐ and P‐centered radical cations has been developed. It is based on a consideration of the core‐electron binding energies E and ionization potentials I of the 15 series of the neutral molecules measured by photoelectron spectroscopy. Properties E and I obey the linear free energy relationship. By using the correlation analysis, in radical cations the inductive, resonance, and polarizability effects were first established to be in operation. The polarizability effect is caused by the charge on the radical cation centers N^?+ and P^?+. The contribution of this effect ranges from 10 to 55%. In the radical cations containing the moieties with N^?+?X and P^?+?X bonds, the standard resonance constants σ_R and σ of the substituents X are of limited utility. An understanding of the substituent effects may give a better insight into the mechanisms of both: radical ions and heterolytic reactions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A DFT study on the (2 + 3) cycloaddition reactions of 2‐nitropropene‐1 with Z‐C,N‐diarylnitrones

B3LYP/6‐31G* calculations for competing (2 + 3)‐cycloaddition pathways for 2‐nitropropene‐1 (1) to Z‐C, N‐diarylnitrones ( 2a – e ) suggest a concerted reaction mechanism. However, the results point to the strongly asymmetric nature of transition complexes. Increasing polarity of the reaction environment and presence of electron‐donating substituents in the nitrone phenyl rings contribute to the higher asymmetry of these structures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel probe for determination of electrical surface potential of surfactant micelles: N,N'‐di‐n‐octadecylrhodamine

The peculiarities of the structure of the fluorescent dye N,N'‐di‐n‐octadecylrhodamine advantage its using as an interfacial acid–base probe in aqueous micellar solution of colloidal surfactants. Two long hydrocarbon tails of the dye provide similar orientation of both cation and zwitterion on the micelle/water interface, with the ionizing group COOH exposed to the Stern region in all the systems studied. Further, the charge type of the acid–base couple, A⁺B^±, ensures similar values of the ‘intrinsic’ contribution, pK, to the ‘apparent’ pK value in micelles of different surfactants. This makes the indicator suitable for determination of electrical surface potentials, Ψ. The pKs have been obtained in cationic, anionic, zwitterionic, and nonionic surfactant systems, at various salt background. In total 17 systems were studied. At bulk counterion concentration of ca. 0.05 M, the pK values vary from 2.14 ± 0.07 in n–C₁₈H₃₇N(CH₃)Cl^– micelles to 5.48 ± 0.06 in n–C₁₆H₃₃OSONa⁺ micelles. The Ψ values, corresponding to the Stern region of micelles, have been evaluated as Ψ = 59.16 pK–pK for T = 298.15 K. The pK parameter was equated to the average value of 4.23 in nonionic surfactants (4.12–4.32, depending on the surfactant type). For cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium n‐dodecylsulfate micelles, the Ψ values (±(7–11) mV) appeared to be +118 mV and at bulk Br^? concentration 0.019 M and ?76 mV at bulk Na⁺ concentration 0.020 M, respectively. This satisfactorily agrees with the theoretical values +111 and ?84 mV, estimated using the Oshima, Healy, and White equation for these well‐defined colloidal systems. Finally, not only absorption, but also fluorescence spectra display the same response to changes in bulk pH. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of solvent on the ortho substituent effect in the alkaline hydrolysis of phenyl esters of substituted benzoic acids

The second‐order rate constants k (dm³ mol^?1 s^?1) for the alkaline hydrolysis of phenyl esters of meta‐, para‐ and ortho‐substituted benzoic acids in aqueous 5.3 M NaClO₄ and 1.0 M Bu₄NBr were measured by UV/Vis spectrophotometry at 25 °C. The variations in the ortho inductive, ortho resonance, as well as meta and para polar effects with solvent parameters were studied using data for the alkaline hydrolysis of phenyl esters of substituted benzoic acids in various media. The dependence of the ortho substituent effect on solvent can be precisely described with the following equation: Δlog k_ortho = log k_ortho ? log k_H = 0.059 + 2.19σ_I + 0.304σ°_R + 2.79E ? 0.016ΔEσ_I ? 0.085ΔEσ°_R, where ΔE is the solvent electrophilicity, ΔE = E_S ? E_H2O, characterizing the hydrogen‐bond donating power of the solvent. The increase in the meta and para polar substituent effects with decrease in the solvent hydrogen‐bond donor capacity (electrophilicity) was approximately to the same extent (?0.068ΔEσ°_m,p) as the resonance term for the ortho substituents. The steric term of ortho substituents was independent of the solvent parameters. The variations in the ortho inductive, ortho resonance, as well as meta and para polar substituent effects with the solvent electrophilicity were to the same extent as in phenyl benzoates containing the substituents in the phenyl part. The substituent effects in the alkaline hydrolysis of ethyl benzoates appeared to vary with the solvent electrophilicity nearly to the same extent as in the alkaline hydrolysis of substituted phenyl esters of benzoic acids. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

‘Self‐terminating radical cyclizations’ – new insight into the mechanism of the termination step from computational studies

Computational methods were used to gain detailed insight into the mechanism of self‐terminating radical cyclizations, which are initiated by intermolecular addition of O‐centred radicals XO^? to alkynes. The calculations were performed for the reaction of NO, SO, and AcO^? with cyclodecyne ( 1 ) and 5‐cyclodecynone ( 2 ), respectively. Whereas radical addition and the subsequent transannular radical translocation steps are energetically highly favourable processes for the various XO^?, the terminating homolytic β‐fragmentation of the O? X bond in the intermediate α‐oxy radicals 10 – 13 shows a strong dependence on the nature of X. Using simplified model systems, the fragmentation was explored in detail, which revealed that the rate of this step is primarily determined by the strength of the O? X bond and only to a minor extent by the ability of the X moiety to stabilize an unpaired electron in the transition state. However, the cleavage is exothermic, when the released radical X^? is resonance stabilized, e.g. NO, SO, and Bn^?, respectively. In those cases where the unimolecular β‐fragmentation of the O? X bond is slow, termination could also proceed through a bimolecular radical chain process involving the α‐oxy radical intermediate 10 – 13 and the precursor of XO^?, e.g. the Barton PTOC ester 18 or Kim's dithiocarbamate 20 , respectively. Alternative termination mechanisms via oxidation of 10 – 13 can be ruled out under the usual experimental conditions of self‐terminating radical cyclizations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,properties, and solvatochromism of 1,3‐dimethyl‐5‐{(thien‐2‐yl)‐[4‐(1‐piperidyl) phenyl]methylidene}‐(1H,3H)‐pyrimidine‐2,4,6‐trione

A new merocyanine dye, 1,3‐Dimethyl‐5‐{(thien‐2‐yl)‐[4‐(1‐piperidyl)phenyl]methylidene}‐ (1H, 3H)‐pyrimidine‐2,4,6‐trione 3 , has been synthesized by condensation of 2‐[4‐(piperidyl)benzoyl]thiophene 1 with N,N′‐dimethyl barbituric acid 2 . The solvatochromic response of 3 dissolved in 26 solvents of different polarity has been measured. The solvent‐dependent long‐wavelength UV/Vis spectroscopic absorption maxima, v_max, are analyzed using the empirical Kamlet–Taft solvent parameters π* (dipolarity/polarizability), α (hydrogen‐bond donating capacity), and β (hydrogen‐bond accepting ability) in terms of the well‐established linear solvation energy relationship (LSER): (1) The solvent independent coefficients s , a , and b and (v_max)₀ have been determined. The McRae equation and the empirical solvent polarity index, E_T(30) have been also used to study the solvatochromism of 3 . Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An ab initio study of CX3‐substitution (X = H,F, Cl,Br, I) effects on the static electric polarizability and hyperpolarizability of diacetylene

We report a systematic ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) study of the electric properties of the X₃C? C≡C? C≡C? H (X = H, F, Cl, Br, and I) sequence of substituted diacetylenes. We rely on finite‐field Møller–Plesset perturbation theory and coupled‐cluster calculations with large, flexible basis sets. Our best values at the second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory level for the mean dipole polarizability and second hyperpolarizability are $\overline {{\alpha} } $ /e²aE = 64.46 (? CH₃), 65.59 (? CF₃), 110.11 (? CCl₃), 138.90 (? CBr₃), 184.98 (? CI₃) and $\overline {{\gamma} } $ /e⁴aE = 21020 (? CH₃), 13469 (? CF₃), 32708 (? CCl₃), 57599 (? CBr₃), and 105251 (? CI₃). For comparison, the analogous MP2 values for diacetylene [P.Karamanis and G.Maroulis, Chem. Phys. Lett. 2003 , 376, 403.] are $\overline {{\alpha} } $ /e²aE = 49.17, and $\overline {{\gamma} } $ /e⁴aE = 16227. For the mean first hyperpolarizability we report $\overline {{\beta} } $ /e³aE = ?205.8 (? CH₃), ?55.7 (? CF₃), 120.8 (? CCl₃), 443.8 (? CBr₃), and 725.4 (? CI₃). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of substituents on activation parameters in SN2 reactions at aliphatic carbon in solution

Changes of the activation parameters in aliphatic S_N2 reactions with anionic and neutral nucleophiles in various solvents, ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠, were correlated with σ constants of the substituents. The resultant δΔH^≠ and δΔS^≠ reaction constants are linearly related for variations of substituents at the substrate, leaving group and nucleophile. Correlations of δΔH^≠ versus δΔS^≠ allow the estimation of the contribution of changes of the internal enthalpy, δΔH, to the enthalpy reaction constant, δΔH^≠, which gives a single linear dependence on the Hammett ρ reaction constants. The deviations from the dependence of δΔH versus ρ can be interpreted in terms of changes in the transition state structure in S_N2 reactions. The results obtained show that the substituent effects on the charge development in the transition state are governed by the magnitude of δΔH. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A non‐enzymatic model based on an acyl transfer reaction for the formation of energy‐rich acetyl phosphate in organic solvents and in a biphasic system

The formation of acetyl phosphate (AcP), an energy‐rich phosphate compound, was studied through the reaction of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl acetate with H₂PO solubilized with Kryptofix® 222 or as a tetra‐n‐butylammonium ((n‐C₄H₉)₄N⁺) salt in organic media. The results indicated that the rate of the reaction in acetonitrile is strongly inhibited by the addition of water, suggesting that the water added to the medium preferentially solvates the H₂PO anion, inhibiting its action as a nucleophile and allowing it to act as a general base catalyst, which leads to the hydrolysis of the ester. The utilization of various organic solvents in the acetyl transfer process demonstrated that the specific interaction of the solvent with water accelerates the process, by desolvation of H₂PO, which can act as a nucleophile. Finally, a formation/transformation cycle of AcP was studied in a biphasic system (water/CH₂Cl₂) using Kryptofix® 222 and (n‐C₄H₉)₄N⁺BF as both the carrier and solubilizing agent for KH₂PO₄. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.