Trimethyl phosphate, hydrolysis rate

Ah initio calculations to map out the gas-phase activation free energy profiles of the reactions of trimethyl phosphate (TMP) (246) with three nucleophiles, HO, MeO and F have been carried out. The calculations revealed, inter alia, a novel activation free-energy pathway for HO attack on TMP in the gas phase in which initial addition at phosphorus is followed by pseudorotation and subsequent elimination with simultaneous intramolecular proton transfer. Ah initio calculations and continuum dielectric methods have been employed to map out the lowest activation free-energy profiles for the alkaline hydrolysis of a five-membered cyclic phosphate, methyl ethylene phosphate (247), its acyclic analogue, trimethyl phosphate (246), and its six-membered ring counterpart, methyl propylene phosphate (248). The rate-limiting step for the three reactions was found to be hydroxyl ion attack at the phosphorus atom of the triester. ... 

Fig. 3. Rates of hydrolysis of ethyl acetate and trimethyl phosphate.

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