Studies on the kinetics of racemization of 2,4-disubstituted-5(4H)-oxazolones

Abstract

The kinetics of racemization of 2,4-disubstituted-5(4H)-oxazolones obtained from N-acetyl, N-benzoyl, and N-benzyloxycarbonylglycyl-L-leucine, -valine, and -phenylalanine have been studied in several solvents alone and in the presence of tertiary amines. The influence of the nature of the substituents on the rate of the reaction has been evaluated, and the values of the activation parameters ΔH≠ and ΔS≠ for the base-catalyzed reactions have been determined. The racemization process is governed by electronic effects of the C(2)-substituents and steric effects of the C(4)-substituents of the oxazolones. The thermodynamic data suggest that the 2-substituted-4-benzyl-5(4H)-oxazolones racemize more readily than the 4-alkyl analogues (alkyl ≠ benzyl) because of the unique conformation assumed by the benzyl substituent. The rate of the base-catalyzed reaction depends on the extent of hindrance about the nitrogen atom of the tertiary amine as well as on its basicity. The data suggest that the relative rates of racemization of oxazolones are not a true reflection of the relative tendencies to racemize of the pertinent residues during couplings of the parent acids.