Solvolysis of specifically deuterated 7-chloro- and 7-bromo-exo-2-norbornyl brosylates; unusually large γ-kinetic isotope effects in the absence of σ-participation

Abstract

A series of specifically deuterated syn-7-chloro-, anti-7-chloro-, syn-7-bromo-, and anti-7-bromo-exo-2-norbornyl brosylates have been prepared and solvolyzed in NaOAc-buffered 80:20 EtOH–H2O. For solvolysis at 25 °C the γ-kinetic isotope effects (KIE's) for syn-7-chloro-exo-2-norbornyl brosylate-endo-6-d (1e), anti-7-chloro-exo-2-norbornyl brosylate-endo-6-d (2c), syn-7-bromo-exo-2-norbornyl brosylate-endo-6-d (1f), anti-7-bromo-exo-2-norbornyl brosylate-endo-6-d (2d), syn-7-chloro-exo-2-norbornyl brosylate-exo,exo-5,6-d2 (1g), anti-7-chloro-exo-2-norbornyl brosylate-exo,exo-5,6-d2 (2e) are 1.125 ± 0.007, 1.128 ± 0.005, 1.063 ± 0.008, 1.149 ± 0.020, 1.119 ± 0.011, and 1.115 ± 0.013, respectively. There is no detectable γ-kinetic isotope effect for solvolysis of anti-7-chloro-endo-2-norbornyl brosylate-endo-6-d(3a) and the β-KIE for anti-7-chloro-exo-2-norbornyl brosylate-exo-3-d(4a) is 1.111 ± 0.011. From a consideration of the possible sources of the unusually large secondary KIE's, we conclude that the exo-6-d and endo-6-d γ-KIE's likely are derived from a combination of effects rather than from participation of the C1—C6 bond in the ionization step.