Kinetic isotope effects on metaphosphate generation from fragmentation of 2,3-oxaphosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octene derivatives

Kinetic isotope effects of deuterium and oxygen-18 were measured on fragmentation of syn-3-ethoxy ( 1a ) and syn-3-(N,N-diethylamino) ( 1b ) 2,3-oxaphosphabicyclo2.2.2]octene derivatives in 1,2-dichloroethane at 100°C. The secondary deuterium isotope effect on hydrogen adjacent to the P(SINGLE BOND)C bond was found to be 1.060 ± 0.008 for 1a and 1.081 ± 0.009 for 1b . The kinetic oxygen isotope effect on the bridge P(SINGLE BOND)O(SINGLE BOND)C is 0.9901 ± 0.0016 for 1a . The data indicate an unsymmetrical transition state for retrocycloaddition extrusion of the metaphosphate moiety, with the breakage of the C(SINGLE BOND)P bond and formation of the P (DOUBLE BOND) O bond more advanced than the C(SINGLE BOND)O breakage. A synthesis of 1a and 1b labeled with deuterium is described. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.