Aryl sulfate monoesters

Sulfate monoesters can react by dissociative paths, and this is the favored path. Whether such reactions are concerted or involve a very short-lived sulfur trioxide intermediate has been the subject of debate. ° Benkovic and Benkovic reported evidence suggesting that the nucleophile is present (though there is little bond formation) in the transition state for the reaction of amines with p-nitrophenyl sulfate. Alkyl esters of sulfuric or sulfonic acids normally react with C-0 cleavage only when this is disfavored, as in aryl esters, does one see S-0 cleavage. Sulfate diester... 

Figure 1 On the left are the structures of a phosphate monoester, diester, and triester. The first pK of an alkyl phosphate monoester, and the pKa of a dialkyl diester, are typically between 1 and 2. The second pKa of an alkyl monoester is approximately 6.8, and from one to two units lower for aryl esters. At the right are the structures of a sulfate monoester and diester. Sulfate monoesters have a very low pKa values and as a result are always ionized at physiological pH.

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