C. F. Bernasconi, A. Leyes, Z. Rappoport
1999
Citations
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Journal
The Journal of organic chemistry
Abstract
A kinetic study of the reaction of beta-methoxy-alpha-nitrostilbene (1-OMe) with cyanamide (CNA) over a pH range from 8.5 to 12.4 shows that it is the anion (CNA(-), pK(a) = 11.38) rather than the neutral amine that is the reactive species. Attempts at monitoring the reaction with the neutral CNA at low pH were unsuccessful because of competing hydrolysis. It is shown that the nucleophilic reactivity of CNA is abnormally low, probably because of a resonance effect, and that the reactivity of CNA(-) is high, higher than that of strongly basic oxyanion because of relatively weak solvation. The high reactivity of both 1-OMe and CNA(-) appeared to constitute favorable conditions conducive to the detection of the S(N)V intermediate, as has been the case in the reactions of 1-OMe with thiolate ions, alkoxide ions, and some amines. However, no intermediate was observed. Reasons for this failure are discussed.