Secondary Kinetic Isotope Effects in Bimolecular Nucleophilic Substitutions. VI. Effect of α and β Deuteration of Alkyl Halides in their Menschutkin Reactions with Pyridine in Nitrobenzene

Abstract

A survey of kinetic, secondary deuterium isotope effects, for α, β, and γ deuterated alkyl halides reacting with pyridine in nitrobenzene solvent has been made. α-Deuterium effects have been measured for eight compounds, β-deuterium effects for four compounds, and one rate ratio for γ-deuteration is reported. The possible errors in the rate ratios for β-deuterated compounds, resulting from the elimination side reaction have been determined. The results are discussed in terms of transition state structure.