Structural isotope effects

Transition state structure. Isotope effects will often give a very clear picture of what the transition state looks like for an enzymatic reaction. 

A substantial body of data, including reaction kinetics, isotope effects, and structure-reactivity relationships, has permitted a thorough understanding of the steps in aromatic nitration. As anticipated from the general mechanism for electrophilic substitution, there are three distinct steps ... 

Consider a reactant molecule in which one atom is replaced by its isotope, for example, protium (H) by deuterium (D) or tritium (T), C by C, etc. The only change that has been made is in the mass of the nucleus, so that to a very good approximation the electronic structures of the two molecules are the same. This means that reaction will take place on the same potential energy surface for both molecules. Nevertheless, isotopic substitution can result in a rate change as a consequence of quantum effects. A rate change resulting from an isotopic substitution is called a kinetic isotope effect. Such effects can provide valuable insights into reaction mechanism. 

In these examples B is a base. The first example is called a secondary isotope effect of the first kind, the next one is a secondary isotope effect of the second kind. The distinction between these is that in the first kind bonds to the isotopic atom have undergone spatial (i.e., structural) change. Halevi has reviewed secondary isotope effects on equilibria and rates. 

Despite its apparent simplicity, the PK pyrrole synthesis has retained its mystique since being discovered. Several investigations into the PK mechanism have been reported, including a gas phase study. Current evidence (intermediate isolation, kinetics, isotope effects) suggests the following (abbreviated) mechanism for the formation of pyrrole 13. However, the specific PK mechanism is often dependent on pH, solvent, and amine and dicarbonyl structure, especially with regard to the ringclosing step. 

DEPT-NMR spectrum. 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol, 451 Detergent, structure of, 1065 Deuterium isotope effect, 386-387 El reaction and, 392 E2 reaction and, 386-387 Dewar benzene. 1201 Dextromethorphan, structure of, 294 Dextrorotatory, 295 Dextrose, structure of. 973 Dialkylamine, pKa of, 852 Diastereomers, 302-303 kinds of, 310-311 Diastereotopic (NMR), 456... 

A large primary isotope effect kH/kD = 3.6 had also been found earlier by Ibne-Rasa122 in the nitrosation of 2,6-dibromophenol in the 4 position which was also shown to be base-catalysed. These values are not unexpected in view of the isotope effect found with diazonium coupling which involves a similarly unreactive electrophile, so that the rate-determining transition state will be displaced well towards products. Furthermore, the intermediate will have a quinonoid structure and will, therefore, be of low energy consequently, the energy barrier for the second step of the reaction will be high. 

The lack of a substrate isotope effect suggests very extensive internal return and is readily explained in terms of the fact that conversion of the hydrocarbon to the anion would require very little structural reorganisation. Since koba = k 1k 2/(kLl+k 2) and k 2 is deduced as > k2, then kobs = Kk 2, the product of the equilibrium constant and the rate of diffusion away of a solvent molecule, neither of the steps having an appreciable isotope effect. If the diffusion rates are the same for reactions of each compound then the derived logarithms of partial rate factors (above) become pAT differences between benzene and fluorobenzene hydrogens in methanol. However, since the logarithms of the partial rate factors were similar to those obtained with lithium cyclohexylamide, a Bronsted cor-... 

What concerns us here are three topics addressing the fates of bromonium ions in solution and details of the mechanism for the addition reaction. In what follows, we will discuss the x-ray structure of the world s only known stable bromonium ion, that of adamantylideneadamantane, (Ad-Ad, 1) and show that it is capable of an extremely rapid degenerate transfer of Br+ in solution to an acceptor olefin. Second, we will discuss the use of secondary a-deuterium kinetic isotope effects (DKie) in mechanistic studies of the addition of Br2 to various deuterated cyclohexenes 2,2. Finally, we will explore the possibility of whether a bromonium ion, generated in solution from the solvolysis of traAU -2-bromo-l-[(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)oxy]cyclohexane 4, can be captured by Br on the Br+ of the bromonium ion, thereby generating olefin and Br2. This process would be... 

The influence of the decay scheme on the retention (through differences in the percent conversion of y-transitions) was demonstrated by comparison of the -decay products of Pb and Pb in Pb(CgH5)3Cl. The retention of Bi in Bi(CgH5)3Cl2 was 17—19% and of Bi about 50%. According to Nefedov, this isotope effect is directly proportional to the conversion coefficients of the two isotopes. Corresponding to the complement of the conversion coefficient, 1—a, the molecular structure should be preserved to the extent of 80% for the two isotopes. The probability of chemical reaction for change or preservation of molecular structure is the same for the two cases. 

Two reasons may be offered for the enhanced /3-deuterium isotope effect in vinyl cations as compared with carbonium ions (193). As pointed out by Noyce and Schiavelli (21), in the transition state of a vinyl cation, the isotopically substituted C—H bond is ideally suited for overlap with the developing vacant p orbital, as the dihedral angle between the empty p orbital and C—H bonds is zero in the intermediate, as shown in structure 239. Shiner and co-workers (195)... 

Rosenblatt etal have examined the effect of structure and isotopic substitution upon the permanganate oxidation of some alky famines (Table 4). The isotope effect of 1.84 is considered to be sufficiently low to be compatible with aminium radical-cation formation, and it is felt that, while C-H cleavage is significant for oxidation of primary amines, the dominant mode of oxidation of tertiary amines is electron-transfer, e.g. 

Although the radioactive isotope H has been extensively used for studies on the uptake of xenobiotics into whole cells, the intrusion of exchange reactions and the large isotope effect renders this isotope rather less straightforward for metabolic studies. Both deuterium H-labeled substrates, and oxygen and OH2 have, however, been extensively used in metabolic studies, since essentially pure labeled compounds are readily available and mass spectrometer facilities have become an essential part of structural determination. 

Reaction conditions can be modified to accelerate the rate of lithiation when necessary. Addition of tertiary amines, especially TMEDA, facilitates lithiation53 by coordination at the lithium and promoting dissociation of aggregated structures. Kinetic and spectroscopic evidence indicates that in the presence of TMEDA lithiation of methoxybenzene involves the solvated dimeric species (BuLi)2(TMEDA)2.54 The reaction shows an isotope effect for the o-hydrogcn, establishing that proton abstraction is rate determining.55 It is likely that there is a precomplexation between the methoxybenzene and organometallic dimer. 

Mechanistic studies have been designed to determine if the concerted cyclic TS provides a good representation of the reaction. A systematic study of all the E- and Z-decene isomers with maleic anhydride showed that the stereochemistry of the reaction could be accounted for by a concerted cyclic mechanism.19 The reaction is only moderately sensitive to electronic effects or solvent polarity. The p value for reaction of diethyl oxomalonate with a series of 1-arylcyclopentenes is —1.2, which would indicate that there is little charge development in the TS.20 The reaction shows a primary kinetic isotope effect indicative of C—H bond breaking in the rate-determining step.21 There is good agreement between measured isotope effects and those calculated on the basis of TS structure.22 These observations are consistent with a concerted process. 

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