Jerry R. Mohrig

Free-Energy Surfaces for Liquid-Phase Reactions and Their Use To Study the Border Between Concerted and Nonconcerted α,β-Elimination Reactions of Esters and Thioesters

Distinguishing between the concerted second-order mechanism for beta-eliminations and nonconcerted mechanisms with discrete carbanion intermediates is very difficult experimentally, but the ability of quantum chemistry to find stationary points of the free-energy surface in liquid-phase solutions, even for complex reagents, provides a new tool for elucidating such mechanisms. Here we use liquid-phase density functional theory calculations to find transition states and intermediates on the free-energy surfaces of four base-initiated alpha,beta-eliminations of acetoxy and mesyloxy esters and their analogous thioesters. The geometries, free energies, and charge distributions of these structures support a stepwise irreversible first-order elimination from a conjugate base (E1cB(I)) mechanism with acetoxy ester 3, acetoxy thioester 4, and mesyloxy thioester 6. However, mesyloxy ester 5, which has an excellent nucleofuge and a less-acidic proton, follows a concerted but asynchronous E2 mechanism with an E1cB-like transition state. The anti transition state is more favorable than the syn one, even for the poorer nucleofuge and more-acidic thioesters. The article includes a general scheme for describing liquid-phase reactions in terms of free-energy surfaces.

Effect of buffer general acid-base catalysis on the stereoselectivity of ester and thioester H/D exchange in D2O.

As part of a comprehensive investigation on the stereochemistry of base-catalyzed 1,2-elimination and H/D exchange reactions of carbonyl compounds, we have found that the stereoselectivity of H/D exchange of 3-hydroxybutyryl N-acetylcysteamine (3) in D(2)O is strongly influenced by the presence of buffers. This buffer effect is also operative with a simple acyclic ester, ethyl 3-methoxybutanoate (7). Buffers whose general-acid components are cyclic tertiary ammonium ions are particularly effective in changing the stereoselectivity. (2)H NMR analysis showed that without buffer, H/D exchange of 3 produces 81-82% of the 2R*, 3R* diastereomer of 2-deuterio 3 (the anti product). In the presence of 0.33 M 3-quinuclidinone buffer, only 44% of the 2R*, 3R* diastereomer was formed. With ester 7, the stereoselectivity went from 93-94% in DO(-)/D(2)O to 60% in the presence of buffer. Phosphate buffer, as well as others, also showed substantial effects. The results are put into the context of what is known about the mechanism of H/D exchange of esters and thioesters, and the relevance of the buffer effect on the mechanism of the enoyl-CoA hydratase reaction is discussed. It is likely that hydrogen bonding in the enolate-buffer acid encounter complex is an important stereochemical determinant in producing a greater amount of the 2R*, 3S* diastereomer (the syn product). Studies that involve the protonation of enolate anions in D(2)O need to include the buffer general acid in any understanding of the stereoselectivity.

Does Activation of the Anti Proton, Rather than Concertedness, Determine the Stereochemistry of Base-Catalyzed 1,2-Elimination Reactions? Anti Stereospecificity in E1cB Eliminations of β-3-Trifluoromethylphenoxy Esters, Thioesters, and Ketones

As part of a comprehensive investigation on the stereochemical aspects of base-catalyzed 1,2-elimination reactions, we have studied a set of acyclic carbonyl substrates that react by an irreversible E1cB mechanism with largely anti stereospecificity. (2)H NMR data show that these reactions using KOH in EtOH/H(2)O under non-ion-pairing conditions produce a minimum of 85-89% anti elimination on stereospecifically labeled tert-butyl (2R*,3R*)- and (2R*,3S*)-3-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2,3-(2)H(2)-butanoate, S-tert-butyl (2R*,3R*)- and (2R*,3S*)-3-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2,3-(2)H(2)-butanethioate, and the related ketones, (4R*,5R*)- and (4R*,5S*)-5-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-4,5-(2)H(2)-3-hexanone. With both diastereomers of each substrate available, the KIEs can be calculated and the innate stereoselectivities determined. The elimination reactions of the β-3-trifluoromethylphenoxy substrates occur by E1cB mechanisms with diffusionally equilibrated enolate-anion intermediates. Thus, it is clear that anti elimination does not depend solely upon concerted E2 mechanisms. Negative hyperconjugation provides a satisfactory explanation for the anti stereospecificity exhibited by our carbonyl substrates, where the leaving group activates the anti proton, leading to the enolate intermediate. The activation of the anti proton by negative hyperconjugation may also play a role in the concerted pathways of E2 mechanisms. We have also measured the rates of the hydroxide-catalyzed elimination reactions of butanoate, thiobutanoate, and ketone substrates in EtOH/H(2)O, with β-tosyloxy, acetoxy, and 3-trifluoromethylphenoxy nucleofuges.

Bimolecular displacement of nitrogen (SN2) in an alkanediazonium ion

Kinetic studies on the bis(trifluromethyl)-methanediazonium ion in FSO3H show loss of N2 through an SN2 pathway.