Polar versus steric effects in the solvolysis of 6endo-substituted 2endo-norbornyl p-toluenesulfonates. Norbornanes,Part 8

The solvolysis rates and products of the 6endo-R-substituted 2endo-norbornyl toluenesulfonates 6a – 6i have been determined. The rates of 6a – 6g correlate with the inductive constants σ the 6endo-substituents and are not related to the size of the latter. It is therefore concluded that polar rather than steric effects control the exo/endo-rate ratios of norbornyl sulfonates. Products are derived mainly from rearranged 6exo-R-norbornyl cations when the substituent is an electron donor and from unrearranged 6endo-R-substituted cations when the substituent is an electron acceptor.