Kinetic isotope effects theory

Eyring (56) is of the opinion that transition state theory in its present form cannot—nor was it intended to— confidently handle rate differences of the magnitude encountered in secondary isotope effects. Still, if these are to be treated formally at all, it must be done in the framework of kinetic isotope effect theory—which is all we have. Fortunately, to use the words of Bigeleisen and Wolfsberg (49a) the effect of isotopes on the various quantities can often be predicted with more reliability than the quantities themselves, so that one might try to predict quantitative isotope effects for reactions so complex that quantitative predictions of fc would not be attempted. ... 

We now carry the argument over to transition state theory. Suppose that in the transition state the bond has been completely broken then the foregoing argument applies. No real transition state will exist with the bond completely broken—this does not occur until the product state—so we are considering a limiting case. With this realization of the very approximate nature of the argument, we make estimates of the maximum kinetic isotope effect. We write the Arrhenius equation for the R-H and R-D reactions... 

A more rigorous theory of kinetic isotope effects begins with the transition state equation k = (kTlh)K. Writing this for and ito leads to... 

Solvolytic experiments specifically designed to test Bartell s theory were carried out by Karabatsos et al. (1967), who were primarily interested in an assessment of the relative contributions of hyperconjugation and non-bonded interactions to secondary kinetic isotope effects. Model calculations of the (steric) isotope effect in the reaction 2- 3 were performed, as well as that in the solvolyses of acetyl chloride... 

In addition to the magnetic differences between the deuteron and proton, however, their mass difference may also cause observable effects. A well known example is found in the theory of chemical reactions, where the so called kinetic isotope effects (KIE s) are an important source of information about reaction mechanisms. Also in the field of ESR, such effects may arise, although these have been much less studied than the KIE s. 

Transition state theory has been useful in providing a rationale for the so-called kinetic isotope effect. The kinetic isotope effect is used by enzy-mologists to probe various aspects of mechanism. Importantly, measured kinetic isotope effects have also been used to monitor if non-classical behaviour is a feature of enzyme-catalysed hydrogen transfer reactions. The kinetic isotope effect arises because of the differential reactivity of, for example, a C-H (protium), a C-D (deuterium) and a C-T (tritium) bond. 

The only (to the best of our knowledge) theoretical treatment of hydrogen transfer by tunnelling to explicitly recognise the role of protein dynamics, and relate this in turn to the observed kinetic isotope effect, was described by Bruno and Bialek. This approach has been termed vibration-ally enhanced ground state tunnelling theory. A key feature of this theory... 

Major DT, Gao J (2007) An integrated path integral and free-energy perturbation-umbrella sampling method for computing kinetic isotope effects of chemical reactions in solution and in enzymes. J Chem Theory Comput 3 949—960... 

German ED, Kuznetsov AM, Dogonadze RR (1980) Theory of the kinetic isotope effect in proton transfer reactions in a polar medium. J Chem Soc, Faraday Trans 2 76 1128-1146... 

The density functional theory calculations of primary 14C KIE and secondary deuterium kinetic isotope effects (SKIE)220 did not reproduce satisfactorily all the experimentally determined 14C KIE and deuterium (4,4-2H2)- and 6,6-2H2-SKIE, though the non-local DFT methods provide transition state energies on a par with correlated molecular orbital theory221. 

Table 3 collects the results obtained by different authors on the reaction of 0s04(NH3) with ethylene. Though the methods were not identical, the results are very similar, and in all cases there is a clear preference of the [3+2] over the [2+2] pathway. Additional confirmation was provided by a combined experimental and theoretical study using kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) to compare experiment and theory. Kinetic isotope effects were measured by a new NMR technique [25] and compared to values, which are available from calculated transition states. It showed that indeed only the [3+2] pathway is feasible [10]. 

Since the discovery of the deuterium isotope in 1931 [44], chemists have long recognized that kinetic deuterium isotope effects could be employed as an indicator for reaction mechanism. However, the development of a mechanism is predicated upon analysis of the kinetic isotope effect within the context of a theoretical model. Thus, it was in 1946 that Bigeleisen advanced a theory for the relative reaction velocities of isotopic molecules that was based on the theory of absolute rate —that is, transition state theory as formulated by Eyring as well as Evans and Polanyi in 1935 [44,45]. The rate expression for reaction is given by... 

Kelley and co-workers [70, 71] measured the dynamics of the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer in 3-hydroxyflavone and a series of its derivatives as a function of solvent (Scheme 2.9). The energy changes associated with the processes examined are of the order of 3 kcal/mol or less. The model they employed in the analysis of the reaction dynamics was based upon a tunneling reaction path. Interestingly, they find little or no deuterium kinetic isotope effect, which would appear to be inconsistent with tunneling theories. For 3-hydroxy-flavone, they suggest the lack of an isotope effect is due to a very large... 

Several monographs2-5 have detailed discussions dealing with heavy-atom and primary and secondary hydrogen-deuterium kinetic isotope effects. The monograph by Melander and Saunders5 covers the entire area particularly well. For this reason, only a brief summary of the theory of kinetic isotope effects as well as their important uses in the determination of reaction mechanism and transition-state geometry will be presented. 

Abstract The statistical thermodynamic theory of isotope effects on chemical equilibrium constants is developed in detail. The extension of the method to treat kinetic isotope effects using the transition state model is briefly described. 

The understanding of isotope effects on chemical equilibria, condensed phase equilibria, isotope separation, rates of reaction, and geochemical and meteorological phenomena, share a common foundation, which is the statistical thermodynamic treatment of isotopic differences on the properties of equilibrating species. For that reason the theory of isotope effects on equilibrium constants will be explored in considerable detail in this chapter. The results will carry over to later chapters which treat kinetic isotope effects, condensed phase phenomena, isotope separation, geochemical and biological fractionation, etc. 

Isotope effects on rates (so-called kinetic isotope effects, KIE s) of specific reactions will be discussed in detail in a later chapter. The most frequently employed formalism used to discuss KIE s is based on the activated complex (transition state) theory of chemical kinetics and is analogous to the theory of isotope effects on thermodynamic equilibria discussed in this chapter. It is thus appropriate to discuss this theory here. 

Kinetic Isotope Effects Continued Variational Transition State Theory and Tunneling... 

Abstract Some of the successes and several of the inadequacies of transition state theory (TST) as applied to kinetic isotope effects are briefly discussed. Corrections for quantum mechanical tunneling are introduced. The bulk of the chapter, however, deals with the more sophisticated approach known as variational transition state theory (VTST). 

To begin we are reminded that the basic theory of kinetic isotope effects (see Chapter 4) is based on the transition state model of reaction kinetics developed in the 1930s by Polanyi, Eyring and others. In spite of its many successes, however, modern theoretical approaches have shown that simple TST is inadequate for the proper description of reaction kinetics and KIE s. In this chapter we describe a more sophisticated approach known as variational transition state theory (VTST). Before continuing it should be pointed out that it is customary in publications in this area to use an assortment of alphabetical symbols (e.g. TST and VTST) as a short hand tool of notation for various theoretical methodologies. 

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