Proton-transfer kinetic studies

Table III suggests some of the proton transfer kinetic studies one is likely to hear most about in the near future. The very first entry, colloidal suspensions, is one that Professor Langford mentioned earlier in these proceedings. In the relaxation field, one of the comparatively new developments has been the measurement of kinetics of ion transfer to and from colloidal suspensions. Yasunaga at Hiroshima University is a pioneer in this type of study (20, 21, 22). His students take materials such as iron oxides that form colloidal suspensions that do not precipitate rapidly and measure the kinetics of proton transfer to the colloidal particles using relaxation techniques such as the pressure-jump method.

Table IV is an attempt to summarize the results of these proton transfer studies in nonaqueous solvents. There is no systematic trend in what seems to be the rate limiting step in contrast to the attractive Eigen-Wilkins generalization for the mechanism of metal ion complexation. Obviously, many more proton transfer kinetic studies in nonaqueous solutions are needed for beautiful generalizations to emerge. Whether investigators will have the patience to carry them out or not is the only uncertainty.

The interest in proton transfer to and from carbon arises partly because this process occurs as an elementary step in the mechanisms of a number of important reactions. Acid and base catalysed reactions often occur through intermediate carbonium ions or carbanions which are produced by reactions (1) and (2). A knowledge of the acid—base properties of carbonium ions or carbanions may also help in understanding reactions in which these species are present as reactive intermediates, even when they are generated by processes other than proton transfer. Kinetic studies of simple reactions such as proton transfer are also important in the development of theories of kinetics. Since both rates and equilibrium constants can often be measured for (1) and (2) these reactions have been useful in the investigation of correlations between rate coefficients and equilibrium constants (linear free energy relations). 

In summary, it is clear from the above-discussed aspects that it was possible by multinuclear NMR (oxygen-17, nitrogen-15, carbon-13, and technetium-99) to successfully study the very slow cyanide exchange and the slow intermolecular oxygen exchange in these oxocy-ano complexes and correlate them both with the proton-transfer kinetics. Furthermore, the interdependence between the proton transfer and the actual dynamic inversion of the metal center was clearly demonstrated. 

Eight generalizations are given arising from world-wide studies of proton transfer reactions in aqueous media carried out over the past twenty-five years. Future directions of research on proton transfer kinetics are predicted, and recent kinetic studies by the authors on proton transfer in nonaqueous media (methanol, acetonitrile, and benzonitrile) are reviewed. 

In the following amplification of these generalizations, some attention will be given to controversial aspects of these statements. It is interesting that an area of scientific study such as proton transfer kinetics could be an active one for over 25 years, particularly because of relaxation techniques, and still be one for which it is difficult to make many generalizations that workers in the field can endorse without major reservations. 

Table III Eight Areas for Future Research in the Study of Proton Transfer Kinetics ...

Many more details can be found about the kinetics of proton transfer reactions [8]. These often involve specific chemical features of the reactants. Since much of the focus in this chapter is on experimental methods, these reactions are not discussed further. However, the use of NMR spectroscopy to study proton transfer kinetics is considered in section 7.9. 

The picture of prototropic trjinsformations of the nucleic acid base tautomers will never be completed without a knowledge of inter- and intramolecular proton transfer kinetics. The most general data describing the kinetics of proton transfer are the set of temperature dependent rate constants. These data for nucleic acid bases are not yet available from either experimental or theoretical studies except the very recent paper [ 134] where the authors attempt to estimate the water assisted proton transfer rate constant for adenine. However, the calculated values of proton transfer barrier for both non-water assisted and water assisted pathways are available for the adenine, guanine and eytosine [119, 123, 134]. These data are collected in Tables 12 - 16, where, for convenience, we have defined as forward reaction the proton transfer process from the normal (canonical) to the hydroxo- (imino-) form. 

In analyzing the behavior of these types of tetrahedral intermediates, it should be kept in mind that proton-transfer reactions are usually fast relative to other steps. This circumstance permits the possibility that a minor species in equilibrium with the major species may be the major intermediate. Detailed studies of kinetics, solvent isotope effects, and the nature of catalysis are the best tools for investigating the various possibilities. 

This variation from the ester hydrolysis mechanism also reflects the poorer leaving ability of amide ions as compared to alkoxide ions. The evidence for the involvement of the dianion comes from kinetic studies and from solvent isotope effects, which suggest that a rate-limiting proton transfer is involved. The reaction is also higher than first-order in hydroxide ion under these circumstances, which is consistent with the dianion mechanism. 

There are obviously many reactions that are too fast to investigate by ordinary mixing techniques. Some important examples are proton transfers, enzymatic reactions, and noncovalent complex formation. Prior to the second half of the 20th century, these reactions were referred to as instantaneous because their kinetics could not be studied. It is now possible to measure the rates of such reactions. In Section 4.1 we will find that the fastest reactions have half-lives of the order 10 s, so the fast reaction regime encompasses a much wider range of rates than does the conventional study of kinetics. 

The detritiation of [3H]-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene by aqueous perchloric acid was also studied, the second-order rate coefficients (107/c2) being determined as 5.44, 62.0, and 190 at 0, 24.6, and 36.8 °C, respectively, whilst with phosphate buffers, values were 3.75, 13.8, and 42.1 at 24.6, 39.9, and 55.4 °C, respectively. The summarised kinetic parameters for these studies are given in Table 134, and notable among the values are the more negative entropies of activation obtained in catalysis by the more negative acids. This has been rationalised in terms of proton transfer... 

Although thermodynamics can be used to predict the direction and extent of chemical change, it does not tell us how the reaction takes place or how fast. We have seen that some spontaneous reactions—such as the decomposition of benzene into carbon and hydrogen—do not seem to proceed at all, whereas other reactions—such as proton transfer reactions—reach equilibrium very rapidly. In this chapter, we examine the intimate details of how reactions proceed, what determines their rates, and how to control those rates. The study of the rates of chemical reactions is called chemical kinetics. When studying thermodynamics, we consider only the initial and final states of a chemical process (its origin and destination) and ignore what happens between them (the journey itself, with all its obstacles). In chemical kinetics, we are interested only in the journey—the changes that take place in the course of reactions. 

For reviews of such proton transfers, see Hibbert, F. Adv. Phys. Org. Chem., 1986,22,113 Crooks, J.E. in Bamford Tipper Chemical Kinetics, vol. 8 Elsevier NY, 1977, p. 197. Kinetic studies of these very fast reactions were first carried out by Eigen. See Eigen, M. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl., 1964, 3, 1. 

Brouillard, R. and Delaporte, B., Chemistry of anthocyanin pigments. 2. Kinetic and thermodynamic study of proton-transfer, hydration, and tautomeric reactions of mal-vidin-3-glucoside, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 99, 8461, 1977. 

---