Intramolecular nucleophilic substitution theoretical studies

Additional experimental, theoretical, and computational work is needed to acquire a complete understanding of the microscopic dynamics of gas-phase SN2 nucleophilic substitution reactions. Experimental measurements of the SN2 reaction rate versus excitation of specific vibrational modes of RY (equation 1) are needed, as are experimental studies of the dissociation and isomerization rates of the X--RY complex versus specific excitations of the complex s intermolecular and intramolecular modes. Experimental studies that probe the molecular dynamics of the [X-. r - Y]- central barrier region would also be extremely useful. 

Kinetic studies of the unnatural 6-a -epimer of ampicillin, fi-ept-ampicillin (154), have revealed an intramolecular process not undergone by ampicillin (or other natural /3-substituted penicillins) At pH 6-9, intramolecular attack of the jS-lactam carbonyl group by the side-chain amino group of (154) yields a stable piperazine-2,5-dione derivative (155). Theoretical calculations show that the intramolecular aminolysis of 6-epi-ampicillin nucleophilic attack occurs from the a-face of the -lactam ring with an activation energy of 14.4kcalmor In other respects, the hydrolysis of the b-a-epimer is unexceptional. 

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