Reactions of 1,3-diacylthioureas with methoxide ion and with amines

Abstract

Rate constants of base-catalyzed methanolysis and dissociation constants in methanol have been determined for benzoylthiourea (II), 1,3-diacetylthiourea (III), 1,3-dibenzoylthiourea (IV), and 1-acetyl-3-benzoylthiourea (V). With the diacyl derivatives III and IV, the reaction of methoxide ion with the neutral substrate is accompanied by that of methoxide with the substrate anion (at higher alkoxide concentrations). Above 0.1 mol l-1 CH3O(-), the rate constants are also affected by medium. The rate of the reaction of neutral diacyl derivative is decreased, and that of the reaction of methoxide with the substrate anion is rapidly increased. The dissociation constant of II is higher than that of acetylthiourea (I) by about one order of magnitude, but the attack of methoxide on the carbonyl group of II is about three times slower than that in I. The benzoyl group at the N1 nitrogen exhibits a greater activating influence (in both the rate and the equilibrium constants) on the other NHCOR group than the acetyl group does. With V the ratio of methanolysis rate constants is 9 : 1 in favour of the acetyl group. The reaction of diacetyl derivative III with 1-butanamine has been followed in butanamine buffers. At the lowest butanamine concentrations, the reaction is second order in the amine, and the rate-limiting step is the proton transfer from the intermediate to the second amine molecule. At the highest butanamine concentrations the reaction becomes first order in the amine, and the rate-limiting step changes to the attack of butanamine on the carbonyl group of diacetyl derivative III.