Intramolecular nucleophilic participation by the thiol group during amide hydrolysis. Part 2. The imidazole catalysis dilemma

Abstract

Catalysis by imidazole and N-methylimidazole buffers of the intramolecular thiolysis of N-n-propyl 2-mercaptomethylbenzamide (forming 2-thiophthalide) has been studied in aqueous solution at 40.0 °C, μ = 1.0. Unlike other buffers previously studied, imidazole and N-methylimidazole are able to catalyze, by a general base route, formation of neutral tetrahedral intermediate; this pathway is rate limiting at pH ≤ 7.5. At higher pH, the previously reported general acid-catalyzed breakdown of this intermediate is rate limiting. The relevance of these observations to the currently accepted pathway for the acylation of papain by amide substrates is discussed. Keywords: amide hydrolysis, intramolecular, thiol participation, imidazole, papain model.