NMR study,theoretical calculations for assignment of the Z‐ and E‐isomers,and kinetics investigation of stable phosphorus ylides involving a 2‐mercapto‐4,6‐dimethyl pyrimidine

In the present work, NMR, theoretical, kinetics, and mechanism investigations were undertaken for a one‐pot condensation reaction between 2‐mercapto‐4,6‐dimethyl pyrimidine and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of triphenyphosphine containing novel stable phosphorus ylides 4a–c . Herein, theoretical calculations have been employed for assignment of the most stable isomers (Z or E) of phosphorus ylides 4a,c by natural population analysis, atoms in molecules methods, and CHelpG keyword, in which E‐ 4(a, c) are more stable forms as the majors. The ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR data of these ylides are consistent with results obtained from theoretical calculations. In addition, kinetic investigation of new ylides was undertaken by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Useful information was obtained from studies of the effect of solvent, structure of reactants (different alkyl groups within the dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates), and also the concentration of reactants on the rate of reactions. The proposed mechanism was confirmed according to the obtained results and a steady‐state approximation, and the first step (k₂) of the reaction was recognized as a rate‐determining step on the basis of the experimental data. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:462–474, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20632