| Abstract: | High resolution 1H NMR is applied to the study of hydrolysis and equilibria in the complex system of γ-1-methyl-5-bis(β-chloroethyl)amino-2-benzimidazolyl]butyric acid and D2O. Kinetic data for the individual hydrolytic steps are obtained for the first time. The hydrolytic reactions are pseudo first order. The differences in the activation energies of the two hydrolysis steps are accounted for by different intermediates. Furthermore, equilibrium constants for the deuteration of the N mustard group in the individual products are quantitatively estimated. They show an increase of the basicity of N mustard with hydrolysis. The applicability of the 1H NMR method is restricted to a pD range of 0.5–4. |
