Nucleophilic aromatic substitution limitations

It is regrettable that the evidence afforded by reaction kinetics is rarely, if ever, uniquely consistent with a single mechanism or a single explanation. The results for nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions are no exception. Legitimate questions can be raised with respect to the extent to which observations made on a particular system permit generalization to other systems. Even for the specific systems studied points of detail arise, and choices have to be made where alternatives are possible. Every such choice introduces an element of uncertainty and imposes a limitation on the extent to which the reaction mechanism is, in fact, known. 

A treatise on kinetics is a logical and fitting medium in which to analyze and discuss just such limitations and uncertainties of mechanism. The present chapter will attempt such a treatment for the SN2 mechanism in nucleophilic aromatic substitution. An effort will be made to pinpoint every assumption and highlight every instance where alternate choices are possible. The end result hoped for is a clearer delineation of the known and the probable from the uncertain and the unknown. 

The available experimental results are completely in accord with this formulation. Both of these limiting conditions have been observed experimentally, and plots of both k versus [B]0 and k versus [R2NH]0 have been shown to have characteristics consistent with this proposed mechanism. These observations thus constitute very convincing evidence for the intermediate complex mechanism in nucleophilic aromatic substitution. 

If one limits the consideration to only that limited number of reactions which clearly belong to the category of nucleophilic aromatic substitutions presently under discussion, only a few experimental observations are pertinent. Bunnett and Bernasconi30 and Hart and Bourns40 have studied the deuterium solvent isotope effect and its dependence on hydroxide ion concentration for the reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenyl phenyl ether with piperidine in dioxan-water. In both studies it was found that the solvent isotope effect decreased with increasing concentration of hydroxide ion, and Hart and Bourns were able to estimate that fc 1/ for conversion of intermediate to product was approximately 1.8. Also, Pietra and Vitali41 have reported that in the reaction of piperidine with cyclohexyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl ether in benzene, the reaction becomes 1.5 times slower on substitution of the N-deuteriated amine at the highest amine concentration studied. 

There are not many successful examples of arylation of carbanions by nucleophilic aromatic substitution. A major limitation is the fact that aromatic nitro compounds often react with carbanions by electron-transfer processes.111 However, such substitution can be carried out under the conditions of the SRN1 reaction (see Section 11.4). 

In an extension of the ideas of Bar and Drummond (115), Wolfenden (116) suggested the rate limiting formation of a tetrahedral intermediate at the 6 position of purine involving enzyme or enzyme bound water and substrate similar to the type of intermediates generally encountered in nucleophilic aromatic substitution as indicated in (I). 

Diastereo- and enantio-selectivity in nucleophilic aromatic substitution is limited to atropisomerism in binaphthyl- and biaryl-forming reactions.21-42... 

The SN1 mechanism cannot be involved either. Strong nucleophiles are required for nucleophilic aromatic substitution, and the reaction rate is proportional to the concentration of the nucleophile. Thus, the nucleophile must be involved in the rate-limiting step. 

N-arylimidazoles, important compounds in medicinal research, have been synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution and Ulmann-type coupling. Aromatic substitution is, however, limited by the need for substrates activated by electron-withdrawing groups. The arylation of diazoles and triazoles, e.g. imidazole, by p-tolyllead triacetate compares very favorably with the Ullmann and related methods in that the conditions employed are much milder and the yields are usually excellent and reproducible (Scheme 13.43) [64]. 

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