Basicity, nucleophilicity, and nucleofugality in the elimination–substitution reactions of β-phenylmercaptoethyl phenolates in DMSO–ethanol media

Abstract

Kinetic studies have been performed on the base-promoted 1,2-elmination reactions of a series of β-phenylmercaptoethyl phenolates with potassium ethoxide in EtOH–DMSO media, yielding phenyl vinyl sulfide. The E2 mechanism was indicated by the absence of H/D exchange in the substrate when the reaction in EtOD–DMSO-d6 containing EtO− was carried to partial completion. The Brønsted coefficient values (βLG, effect of nucleofugality on reaction rate) of ca• 0.30 and ca• 0.98 were estimated for the reaction in pure DMSO and ethanol, respectively. Comparison of the results with reported reactions of substrates of similar structure revealed the important role of the phenyl group on sulfur, the leaving-group nucleofugality, and the medium basicity, in controlling the reaction pathways (elimination versus substitution).