A contribution to mechanism of addition of hydrogen bromide to the α,β-unsaturated system of 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid

Abstract

Rate of addition of hydrogen bromide to meta- and para-substituted 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acids I was followed by polarography and UV spectroscopy. Rate of protonation either is the overall rate determining step or is at least comparable with the rate of the subsequent nucleophile attack.