Kinetics and isotope effects of the β-elimination reactions of some 2,2-di(4-nitrophenyl)chloroethanes promoted by tetramethylguanidine in aprotic solvents

Abstract

Rate constants for the β-elimination of HCl from 2,2-di(4-nitrophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane (I) and 2,2-di(4-nitrophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroéthane (II) promoted by tetramethylguanidine in the aprotic solvents acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and n-hexane have been measured. The activation parameters are characterized by small enthalpies of activation (4.1 to 7.3 kcal mol−1) and large negative entropies of activation (−35 to −50 cal mol−1 deg−1). The primary deuterium isotope effects at 20° C range from kH/kD = 4.8 to 10.3. The results are interpreted to indicate an (EcB)1 mechanism for both substrates I and II in acetonitrile solvent and an E2H or mixed (ElcB)1–E2H mechanism in the less polar solvents, tetrahydrofuran and n-hexane.