Kinetic and Mechanistic Insights into the Pathway Leading to Cyclic Crystalline Phosphorus Ylide Formation in the Presence of 3‐Chloropentane‐2,4‐dione: Theoretical and Stopped‐Flow Approaches

In this work, three speculative mechanisms of the reaction between triphenylphosphine and dimethyl acetylendicarboxylate in the presence of 3‐chloropentane‐2,4‐dione were energetically and thermodynamically developed using quantum mechanical calculations and were profoundly compared with stopped‐flow and UV spectrophotometry approaches. The third speculative mechanism that led to the five‐membered ring structure was experimentally and theoretically favorable. The five‐membered ring structure of product was characterized by X‐ray crystallographic data. Also, steps 1 and 2 of the third mechanism were determined as fast and rate‐determining steps, respectively. The experimental kinetic evidence of the formation and decay of intermediate in steps 1 and 2 (fast and rate‐determining steps, respectively) was compatible with theoretical data. Experimental kinetic data were recognized for overall reaction along with activation parameters for fast and rate‐determining steps of the reaction. Theoretical kinetic data (k and E_a) and activation parameters (ΔG^≠, ΔS,^≠ and ΔH^≠) were calculated for each step and overall reactions.