Base-catalyzed hydrogen isotope aromatics

Benzannelation results in an attenuation of aromaticity effects in 4n + 2rc-systems.255 The base-catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange and isomerization reactions of isomeric dihydrobenzazocines 135 and 136 show these compounds have moderately enhanced kinetic acidity as compared with dihydroquinoline models and is attributable to a small degree of aromatic stabilization in the incipient 1()n electron benzazocinyl anions.255... 

The azo coupling reaction proceeds by the electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism. In the case of 4-chlorobenzenediazonium compound with l-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid [84-87-7] the reaction is not base-catalyzed, but that with l-naphthol-3-sulfonic acid and 2-naphthol-8-sulfonic acid [92-40-0] is moderately and strongly base-catalyzed, respectively. The different rates of reaction agree with kinetic studies of hydrogen isotope effects in coupling components. The magnitude of the isotope effect increases with increased steric hindrance at the coupler reaction site. The addition of bases, even if pH is not changed, can affect the reaction rate. In polar aprotic media, reaction rate is different with alkyl-ammonium ions. Cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants can also influence the reaction rate (27). 

The electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction may be advantageously modeled by isotopic exchange reactions. Shatenshtein and his co-workers77-79 studied hydrogen exchange catalyzed by acids and bases in nonaqueous solution, and their studies throw considerable light on both electrophilic substitution and protophilic (base-induced) replacement of hydrogen in the system (see Section V, A). 

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