Transition state theory acetate reactions

Three-dimensional potential energy diagrams of the type discussed in connection with the variable E2 transition state theory for elimination reactions can be used to consider structural effects on the reactivity of carbonyl compounds and the tetrahedral intermediates involved in carbonyl-group reactions. Many of these reactions involve the formation or breaking of two separate bonds. This is the case in the first stage of acetal hydrolysis, which involves both a proton transfer and breaking of a C—O bond. The overall reaction might take place in several ways. There are two mechanistic extremes ... 

Picosecond absorption spectroscopy studies of the contact ion pairs formed in the photo-initiated, S N 1 reaction of three substituted benzhydryl acetates (18) provided the rate constants for the k and k2 steps of the reaction (Scheme 10), in acetonitrile and DMSO.83 The activation parameters for the k and k2 steps were obtained from the temperature dependence of these steps and the transition state energies were calculated from the rate constants. This allowed the energy surfaces for three substituted substrates to be calculated in each solvent. The effect of solvent reorganization on the reactions of the unsubstituted and methyl-substituted benzhydryl contact ion pairs (CIP) was significant, causing a breakdown of transition state theory for these reactions. The results indicated that it will be very difficult to develop a simple theory of nucleophilicity in, S N1 reactions and that Marcus theory cannot be applied to SnI processes. 

The Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction of maleic anhydride with isoprene has been studied in supercritical-fluid CO2 under conditions near the critical point of CO2 [759]. The rate constants obtained for supercritical-fluid CO2 as solvent at 35 °C and high pressures (>200 bar) are similar to those obtained using normal liquid ethyl acetate as the solvent. However, at 35 °C and pressures approaching the critical pressure of CO2 (7.4 MPa), the effect of pressure on the rate constant becomes substantial. Obviously, AV takes on large negative values at temperatures and pressures near the critical point of CO2. Thus, pressure can be used to manipulate reaction rates in supercritical solvents under near-critical conditions. This effect of pressure on reacting systems in sc-fluids appears to be unique. A discussion of fundamental aspects of reaction kinetics under near-critical reaction conditions within the framework of transition-state theory can be found in reference [759],... 

Density functional theory computational studies have been used to determine die importance of secondary orbital interactions for the stability of transition-state structures for die 4 + 2-cycloaddition of furan with cyclopropene.175 Kinetic studies of die 2 + 4-cycloaddition of 2-cyclopropylidene acetates with furan and dimethylful-vene suggest a mechanism involving diradicals or zwitterions as intermediates.176 Cyclopropene, produced by die reaction of allyl chloride with sodium bis(bimediyl-silyl)amide, reacts with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran to produce both endo- and exo-Diels-Alder cycloadducts isolated for the first tune.177... 

When the theory is extended to H+ and HjO as acids, qualitative agreement but substantial quantitative discrepancies are observed for the present reaction. The a values are low and high, respectively, as predicted. The isotope effects, particularly that for HgO, are reduced, again as predicted. However, the theory places the transition state with HgO as the acid nearly at the products of the rate-determining transformation, with the result that a and kh/zc-j. are both predicted to be close to unity. The experimental a, a, is significantly less than unity, and while reduced from its value for acetic acid, is... 

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