title: Kinetic study of the phenolysis of O-methyl and O-phenyl O-2,4-dinitrophenyl thiocarbonates and O-ethyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl dithiocarbonate.
abstract: The reactions of a series of phenols with O-methyl O-2,4-dinitrophenyl thiocarbonate (MDNPTOC), O-phenyl O-2,4-dinitrophenyl thiocarbonate (PDNPTOC), and O-ethyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl dithiocarbonate (EDNPDTC) are studied kinetically in water, at 25.0 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.2 M (KCl). All reactions show pseudo-first-order kinetics under an excess of phenol over the substrate, and are first order in phenoxide anion. The reactions of EDNPDTC show a linear Brønsted-type plot of slope beta = 0.67, suggesting a concerted mechanism. On the other hand, the phenolyses of MDNPTOC and PDNPTOC exhibit linear Brønsted-type plots of slopes beta = 0.27 and 0.28, respectively, consistent with stepwise mechanisms where the formation of an anionic tetrahedral intermediate (T(-)) is rate determining. By comparison of the kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions under investigation with similar reactions, the following conclusions arise: (i). Substitution of S(-) by O(-) in the intermediate T(-) destabilizes this species. (ii). The change of DNPO in T(-) to DNPS also destabilizes this intermediate. (iii). Substitution of MeO by PhO as the nonleaving group of the substrate does not affect the kinetics, probably by a compensation of electronic and steric effects. (iv). The change of an amino group in a tetrahedral intermediate to a phenoxy group destabilizes the intermediate.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Santiago 22, Chile. ecastro@puc.cl
authors.forename: Enrique A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arellano
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavez
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Santos