Steric effects bimolecular nucleophilic substitution

Students of reaction mechanism will recognize intuitively that the difference between the narrow and broad borderline regions observed for nucleophilic substitution of azide ion at secondary and tertiary carbon (Fig. 2.2) is due to the greater steric hindrance to bimolecular nucleophilic substitution at the tertiary carbon. This leads to a large difference in the effects of an a-Me group on (s ) for the stepwise solvolysis and s ) for concerted bimolecular nucleophilic... 

Much of the discussion which follows is related to Sjf2 reactions and more specifically to bimolecular nucleophilic substitution at a saturated carbon atom, (Ingold, 1953 Bunton, 1963). Many branches of chemistry have profited from the detailed studies made on this deceptively simple reaction (2), which has attracted the attention of physical organic chemists for many years. Especially notable contributions have been made by Hughes and Ingold (Ingold, 1953). These have led to important advances in our understanding of mechanisms, steric effects, polar substituent effects, salt effects and solvent effects. 

P. de la Mare, L. Fowden, E, D. Hughes, C. K. Ingold, andj. Mackie,/. Ghent. Soc., 3200 (1955). XLIX. Analysis of Steric and Polar Effects of Alkyl Groups in Bimolecular Nucleophilic Substitution, with Special Reference to Halogen Exchange. 

It is generally agreed that both hydrolysis and condensation occur by adder base-catalyzed bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions involving, e.g., Sf Z-Si, S 2 -Si, or S 2 -Si transition states or intermediates. The acid-catalyzed mechanisms are preceded by rapid protonation of the OR or OH substituents bonded to Si, whereas under basic conditions hydroxyl or silanolate anions attack Si directly. Statistical and steric effects are probably most important in influencing the kinetics however. Inductive effects are certainly evident in the hydrolysis of organoalkoxysilanes. 

Equation 4 can be classified as S, , ie, substitution nucleophilic bimolecular (221). The rate of the reaction is influenced by several parameters basicity of the amine, steric effects, reactivity of the alkylating agent, and solvent polarity. The reaction is often carried out in a polar solvent, eg, isopropanol, which may increase the rate of reaction and make handling of the product easier. 

Steric effects on the nucleophile, aniline, were clearly evident. Rate constants for bimolecular attack of 2,6-dimethyl- 70a, 2,6-diethyl- 70b, and 3,5-dimethylaniline 70c at 308 K indicate that the ort/zo-substituted anilines react more than an order of magnitude slower at the same temperature (Table 7). Structure 70c must be able approach the reactive nitrogen more closely.42,43 A comparison of the rate constants for reaction of aniline 72c, /V-methyl- 71a and /V-phenylaniline 71b provides further evidence of steric effects although the very small rate constant for the diphenylamine could also be accounted for by reduced nucleophilicity on account of lone pair resonance into the additional phenyl ring. 

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