Correlation analysis of reactivity in the addition of substituted benzylamines to ethyl α-cyanocinnamate

The kinetics of addition of a number of ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted benzylamines to ethyl α-cyanocinnamate (ECC) in acetonitrile have been studied. The reaction is first-order with respect to the amine and ECC. The rates of reaction of meta- and para-substituted benzylamines showed excellent correlations with Taft's σ₁ and σ_R⁰, and with σ₁ and σ_R^BA values, respectively. The reaction of the ortho-compounds showed a very good correlation with Charton's triparametric equation. The reaction is subject to steric hindrance by the ortho-substituents. A mechanism involving formation of a zwitterionic intermediate in a slow step followed by a fast proton transfer has been proposed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.