Reversible Benzylic Nucleophilic Substitution

DCLs to date (a) transesterification, (i) thioacetal exchange, (j) pyrazolotriazone 

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The solubility of ionic substances in relatively nonpolar aprotic solvents can be greatly enhanced by using catalytic quantities of macrocyclic polyethers, such as 18-crown-6, the structure of which is shown in Fig. 5.5. These macrocyclic ethers selectively solvate the cation, both enhancing solubility and also leaving the anion in a very weakly solvated state. The anions behave under these conditions as highly reactive species, sometimes termed naked anions. A study of the relative rates of nucleophilic substitution on benzyl tosylate by potassium salts in acetonitrile in the presence of 18-crown-6 revealed a pronounced leveling effect. " All the potassium halides (fluoride, chloride, bromide, and iodide) were approximately equal in their reactivity. Potassium acetate was observed to be almost ten times more reactive than potassium iodide under these conditions—a reversal of the normal reactivity of acetate ion versus iodide ion in nucleophilic substitution reactions. As measured by cHji values in Table 5.5, iodide is 3 log units, i.e., 10 times, more reactive than acetate ion in the protic solvent methanol. 

Substitution Reactions on Side Chains. Because the benzyl carbon is the most reactive site on the propanoid side chain, many substitution reactions occur at this position. Typically, substitution reactions occur by attack of a nucleophilic reagent on a benzyl carbon present in the form of a carbonium ion or a methine group in a quinonemethide stmeture. In a reversal of the ether cleavage reactions described, benzyl alcohols and ethers may be transformed to alkyl or aryl ethers by acid-catalyzed etherifications or transetherifications with alcohol or phenol. The conversion of a benzyl alcohol or ether to a sulfonic acid group is among the most important side chain modification reactions because it is essential to the solubilization of lignin in the sulfite pulping process (17). 

Hydrolysis and Aminolysis. 2-Substituted 3-benzyl-2-thiazolinium salts (226) are partially hydrolysed in water to yield the iS-acylthioalkylammonium salts (227). The action of alkali produces acylaminothiols (228), but this ring-cleavage is reversed on treatment with acid. iV5-Dialkyl-2-thiazolinium salts (230) yield 3-alkylthiazolidin-2-ones, e.g. (231), under these conditions. Among other nucleophilic reactions, the reduction of... 

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