Enriched 13C NMR of a metallated α-sulphinyl ester; temperature effect

Lithium and magnesium enolates of an α-sulphinyl ester 83% ¹³C enriched at C-1 and C-2 are studied by ¹³C NMR at different temperatures. It is shown that two metaliated species are present in the case of lithium which exchange at ?60°C, ΔG≠ ?60° = 37.8 KJ mol^?1 (9.05 Kcal mol^?1) and that there is no rapid exchange between the non-metallated ester and the metallated species (on the NMR time scale). In the case of magnesium, two or three metallated species are formed, according to the temperature which do not exchange up to 0 °C.