Kinetic isotope effect for the thermally-induced migration of hydrogen in cyclopentadienes

Abstract

The Arrhenius parameters have been obtained for the rearrangement of 5-methylcyclopentadiene by a 1,2-hydrogen migration and for the corresponding rearrangement of 5-methylpentadeuteriocyclopentadiene. The results, taken in conjunction with those reported previously, allow the effect of the methyl group on the rate of hydrogen migration to be assessed. The kinetic isotope effect is of particular interest because the hydrogen transfer takes place through a transition state that is unequivocally non-linear.