Esters relative cleavage rates

Analytical protocols based on H- C HSQC NMR spectroscopy [40] and UV-Vis-spectroscopy [41] were developed to rapidly determine the rruxture composition. Comparison of the relative hydrazone concentrations in both Ubraries revealed the strongest amplification for hydrazone 43 equipped with an ammonium group. Positioning of that ammonium close to the ester moiety in functionalized phenyl acetate 44 indeed resulted in an enhanced cleavage rate. A series of control experiments supported the hypothesis that this was indeed due to transition state stabUization. 

The kinetics of concerted thermal elimination reactions of a series of ethyl (hetero) arylcarboxylate esters (2-thienyl-, 3-thienyl-, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 4-pyridyl-, 3-pyridyl-, and 2 -pyridylcarbo x y I ate) in the gas phase seem to indicate that there is tittle charge separation in the transition state (83) this is in contrast with the behaviour of the corresponding /-butyl and isopropyl esters for which a semi-concerted transition state (82) was proposed previously.49 Results of a kinetic study of the gas-phase elimination reactions of methylbenzoyl fonnate (84) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutan-2-one (85) have been compared with those for pyruvic acid (87) and benzoylformic acid (86).50 The relative rates of reaction [(86)/(87) 46, (87)/(85) = 1.1 x 105 and (86)/(82) = 1 x 106] reveal that the acidity of the hydrogen atom involved in the elimination process, rather than the initial polarization of the C—C bond which undergoes cleavage, is the important rate-controlling factor. 

A distinction must be made between chemical and physical stability. While physical stability is important, particularly in the evaluation of solid propellants, the chemical stability is of prime importance in the estimation of the course of decomposition of nitrate esters. The nitrate esters which are processed for use as propellants - unlike nitro compounds, which are relatively stable under these conditions - undergo a steady decomposition, which is due to imperfect purification of the starting materials and to the effect of other parameters such as temperature and air humidity. The rate of this decomposition is auto-catalyzed by the acidic decomposition products and may in certain cases produce spontaneous ignition. In order to reduce the decomposition rate as much as possible, suitable stabilizers are added to the powders, which are capable of accepting the acid cleavage products with formation of the corresponding nitro compounds (- Stabilizers). The stability is controlled by means of several tests (- Hot Storage Tests). 

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