Nucleophilic substitutions intermediate lifetimes

In halogenated solvents the results indicate that return can occur, even for the uncongested stilbenes. Unfortunately, its importance, as measured by the k i/kN ratio (Fig. 10), cannot be estimated. It must be noted that Bellucci s experiments prove only that return is possible, but do not demonstrate conclusively that it occurs in bromination, since reversibility is controlled by the relative energy levels of TS and TSN which can be affected by the reaction conditions. Now, these conditions are not the same for nucleophilic substitution on bromohydrins and for bromine addition in particular, the counter-ions, Br and Br3 respectively, can alter the lifetime of the intermediate and thus control its partitioning between return and nucleophilic attack. 

Lifetimes of the ionic intermediates of nucleophilic substitution are generally correlated to the pathways followed under given reaction conditions. Information on the lifetimes of ionic intermediates formed by bromine addition to olefins in methanol, as determined by the azide clock method, do not allow the different reaction pathways to be distin-... 

The benzylic substrates X-l-Y and X-2-Y have provided a useful platform for examining the changes in reaction mechanism for nucleophilic substitution that occur as the lifetime of the carbocation intermediate is decreased systematically by varying the meta- and para- aromatic ring substituents. When X is strongly resonance electron-donating, X-l-Y and X-2-Y react by a stepwise mechan-... 

The barrier that the reaction must overcome in order to proceed is determined by the difference in the solvation of the activated complex and the reactants. The activated complex itself is generally considered to be a transitory moiety, which cannot be isolated for its solvation properties to be studied, but in rare cases it is a reactive intermediate of a finite lifetime. The solvation properties of the activated complex must generally be inferred from its postulated chemical composition and conformation, whereas those of the reactants can be studied independently of the reaction. For organic nucleophilic substitution reactions, the Hughes-lngold rales permit qualitative predictions on the behavior of the rate when the polarity increases in a series of solvents, as is shown in Reichardt (Reichardt, 1988). 

Studies of the stereochemistry are a powerful tool for investigation of nucleophilic substitution reactions. Direct displacement reactions by the Sjv2(lim) mechanism are expected to result in complete inversion of configuration. The stereochemical outcome of the ionization mechanism is less predictable, because it depends on whether reaction occurs via an ion pair intermediate or through a completely dissociated ion. Borderline mechanisms may also show variable stereochemistry, depending upon the lifetime of the intermediates and the extent of ion pair recombination. 

Sulphur.—Discussion continues as to whether nucleophilic substitution at sulphur(n) is a one-stage associative process or involves an intermediate adduct of significant lifetime. There is kinetic evidence for an intermediate in reactions of p-nitrobenzenesulphenyl chloride with aniline and with substituted anilines, but no evidence for an intermediate was obtained in... 

Nucleophilic vinylic substitutions are closely related to nucleophilic aromatic substitutions, as in both the leaving group leaves from an unsaturated carbon atom. However, the vinylic substitution routes are much more diverse, and disclose more of the details of the reaction. Stereochemical study of the reaction can give information on the lifetime of the intermediate and about the structure of the transition state... 

Normally, carbocations are encountered as transient intermediates along the pathway of reactions such as the SN1 substitution. However, under conditions in which no nucleophiles or bases are available to react with them, carbocations can have significant lifetimes. Because superacids are very weak nucleophiles (see Section 4.10) and are quite polar, they provide an environment in which carbocations have lifetimes long enough to allow them to be studied by a variety of instrumental techniques. 

The acylium ion would have a longer lifetime in concentrated sulfuric acid than in aqueous hydrochloric acid because the concentration of water in the former acid is extremely low. In aqueous hydrochloric acid, the starting ketones are more likely to be in equilibrium with their hydrates, and the intermediate acylium ion might never form. If it does form, it will react so rapidly with the nucleophilic oxygen of water that the electrophilic aromatic substitution cannot occur. 

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