Aminolysis of aryl dithio-2-thiophenates and dithio-2-furoates in acetonitrile

Abstract

The aminolyses of the title substrates with anilines and benzylamines are investigated in acetonitrile. A clean second-order kinetics is obtained with a first-order rate law in the amine concentration, which is uncomplicated by the fast proton transfer step. The large magnitude of ρZ (ρ1g) as well as ρX (ρnuc) together with relatively large positive ρXZ values is consistent with a stepwise mechanism in which thiophenolate ion expulsion from the intermediate is rate limiting. For the reactions of aryl dithio-2-thiophenates with benzylamines the magnitude of ρX and ρZ values is relatively smaller suggesting that both the addition and expulsion of thiophenolate are partially rate determining. Relatively large secondary kinetic isotope effects, kH/kD≥1.7, with deuterated nucleophiles, support involvement a concurrent proton transfer to the departing thiophenolate ion in the transition state. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 849–857, 1998