AOT-Based Microemulsions Accelerate the 1,3-Cycloaddition of Benzonitrile Oxide to N-Ethylmaleimide

We studied the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of benzonitrile oxide to N-ethylmaleimide in AOT/isooctane/water microemulsions at 25.0 degrees C and found the reaction rate to be roughly 150 and 35 times greater than that in isooctane and pure water, respectively. The accelerating effect of the microemulsion is the combined result of an increase in the local concentrations of the reactants through incorporation into the interface and of the intrinsic rate of the process through electrostatic interactions with the headgroups in the surfactant.

Water in Oil Microemulsions as Reaction Media for a Diels−Alder Reaction between N-Ethylmaleimide and Cyclopentadiene

The Diels-Alder reaction between N-ethylmaleimide and cyclopentadiene in water/AOT/isooctane microemulsions, where AOT denotes sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate, was studied. The rate of the reaction was found to be higher than that obtained in pure isooctane, irrespective of the particular microemulsion composition used. The efficiency of this catalytic action ranged from a factor of 3 at low water contents (viz., W = [H2O]/[AOT] = 2) to 15 at W = 35. On the basis of these results, the reaction takes place simultaneously in the continuous medium and at the microemulsion interface. The favorable arrangement of the reactants at the interface results in more than 95% of the reaction occurring in this microenvironment. The kinetic analysis revealed the rate constant at the microemulsion interface to change with the water content. For small W values a bimolecular rate constant at the interface close to that observed in hexane was obtained. This value increases with W and for W > 20, a value close to that obtained in ethanol was found. This can be ascribed to the absence of hydrogen bonding at the microemulsion interface as well as the accelerating effects due to enforced hydrophobic interactions.

Evidence for complexes of different stoichiometries between organic solvents and cyclodextrins

The influence of the organic solvent on the acid and basic hydrolysis of N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide (MNTS) in the presence of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins has been studied. The observed rate constant was found to decrease through the formation of an unreactive complex between MNTS and the cyclodextrins. In the presence of dioxane, acetonitrile or DMSO, the inhibitory effect of beta-CD decreased on increasing the proportion of organic cosolvent as a result of a competitive reaction involving the formation of an inclusion complex between beta-CD and the cosolvent. The disparate size of the organic solvent molecules resulted in stoichiometric differences between the complexes; the beta-CD-dioxane and beta-CD-DMSO complexes were 1 : 1 whereas the beta-CD-acetonitrile complex was 1 : 2. The basic and acid hydrolysis of MNTS in the presence of alpha-CD showed a different behavior; thus, the reaction gave both 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 alpha-CD-MNTS complexes, of which only the former was reactive. This result was due to the smaller cavity size of alpha-CD and the consequent decreased penetration of MNTS into the cavity in comparison to beta-CD. The acid hydrolysis of MNTS in the presence of alpha-CD also revealed decreased penetration of MNTS into the cyclodextrin cavity, as evidenced by the bound substrate undergoing acid hydrolysis. In addition, the acid hydrolysis of MNTS in the presence of acetonitrile containing alpha-CD gave 1 : 1 alpha-CD-acetonitrile inclusion complexes, which is consistent with a both a reduced cavity size and previously reported data.

Mixed micelles of alkylamines and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride

The influence of chain length and the nature of the head group on the composition of micelles of a binary mixture of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride with both unsubstituted and N-substituted n-octyl, n-decyl, and n-lauryl amines was established from the variation of the critical micelle concentration (cmc) as a function of the solution composition. A synergistic effect was observed in all instances that were found to be correlated with chain length and the type of N-substituent on the alkylamine head group. Experimental data were compared with theoretical predictions based on the equilibrium between micelles and monomers in solution. The Motomura treatment was used to determine the composition of each compound in the mixed micelles (Xi(m)). Mixing nonideality was expressed in terms of the molecular interaction parameter (beta12) as determined using the theory of Holland and Rubingh. Finally, the molecular thermodynamic model for mixed surfactant systems developed by Puvvada and Blankschtein was used to estimate the micellization free energy (DeltaGM) and to evaluate the synergistic phenomenon.

Basic hydrolysis of crystal violet in beta-cyclodextrin/surfactant mixed systems

The basic hydrolysis of crystal violet (CV) in mixed systems consisting of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and a micelle-forming surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl), has been studied. beta-CD was found to catalyze the basic hydrolysis of CV through the interaction of its hydroxyl group, in its deprotonated form, with the carbocation in the complexed substrate. The addition of small amounts of CTACl, with [CTACl] below the critical micelle concentration, to beta-CD solutions does not have an effect upon the observed rate constant for the basic hydrolysis of CV. This behavior is different from that observed for the alkaline hydrolysis of N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide and nitrophenyl acetates in mixed beta-CD/cationic surfactant systems. The proposed mechanism allows us to explain the experimental results on the basis of the high percentage of uncomplexed beta-CD in equilibrium with the micellar system, the low CV concentration, and the high value for the binding constant of CV by beta-CD.

Cyclodextrin effect on solvolysis of substituted benzoyl chlorides

A kinetic study was carried out on the solvolysis of substituted benzoyl chlorides in the presence of alpha-, beta- and gamma-CD. Combination of the substituent dependent mechanism for solvolysis of benzoyl chlorides and the complexation ability of the cyclodextrin yields the following experimental behavior: (i) catalysis by beta- and gamma-CD for solvolysis of electron-attracting substituted benzoyl chlorides due to the reaction with its hydroxyl group C(6); (ii) absence of alpha-CD influence on solvolysis of benzoyl chlorides with electron withdrawing substituents; (iii) inhibition of solvolysis of benzoyl chlorides with electron-donating groups. This behavior is observed for solvolysis of meta/para substituted substrates in the presence of beta-CD, solvolysis of meta-substituted benzoyl chlorides in the presence of alpha-CD and solvolysis of para-substituted benzoyl chlorides in the presence of gamma-CD. This decrease in the rate constant is a consequence of the complexation of the substrate in the cyclodextrin cavity and its low solvation ability, causing the rate of solvolysis in its interior to be negligible. (iv) The solvolysis of meta-substituted benzoyl chlorides in the presence of gamma-CD yields a new behavior where the reaction of the complexed substrate is not negligible in the interior of the cyclodextrin cavity, which has been interpreted as a consequence of incomplete expulsion of hydration water from its cavity when the complexation takes place. (v) The experimental results obtained in the presence of alpha-CD show that meta-substituted benzoyl chlorides give rise to host : guest complexes with 1 : 1 stoichiometries, whereas those which are para-substituted cause a 2 : 1 stoichiometry to be formed. This difference in behavior has been interpreted taking into account the size of the different benzoyl chlorides and their accommodation in the alpha-CD cavity.

Reactivity of sulfur nucleophiles with N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide

The transfer of the nitroso group from N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide (MNTS) to cysteine (CYS) and 2-aminoethanethiol (AET) has been studied in a pH range between pH = 7 and pH = 13. Kinetic results clearly indicate that both nucleophiles react through the corresponding thiolate to give the corresponding nitrosothiol. The existence of two (AET) or three (CYS) macroscopic acidity constants has been kinetically evidenced and the nitrosation rates of the corresponding bases have been identified. Nitrosation rate constants of the different species present in the reaction medium have been determined and a Bronsted-type plot has been established giving a beta(nuc) value approximately equal to 0.08 clearly different from the values of beta(nuc) approximately equal to 0.7 obtained in the nitrosation of primary and secondary amines by MNTS. The low beta(nuc) value has been attributed to the need for previous desolvation of the nucleophile.

Mechanism for basic hydrolysis of N-nitrosoguanidines in aqueous solution

A kinetic study was carried out on the hydrolysis of two N-nitrosoguanidines, 1-nitroso-1-methyl-3-tolylsulfonylguanidine (TSGNO) and 1-nitroso-1-methyl-3-benzoylguanidine (BCGNO). We observed an absence of buffer catalysis using H(2)PO(4)(-)/HPO(4)(2)(-), H(3)BO(3)/H(2)BO(3)(-), and HCO(3)(-)/CO(3)(2)(-) regulators and a complex dependency of the rate constant on the pH. We discovered the existence of three simultaneous reaction paths: spontaneous decomposition of the neutral form of the N-nitrosoguanidine, decomposition of the monoanion, and decomposition through the form of the dianion. The analysis of the kinetic data has allowed us to obtain the acidity constant for the formation of the monoanion of the N-nitrosoguanidine, with values of p = 11.5. The reaction rate for the process through the monoanion, k(2), decreases as the acidity increases. The application of the principle of nonperfect synchronization shows that the basicity and reactivity do not correlate when there exists a possibility of stabilization of the negative charge by resonance. This behavior is consistent with the mechanism E1cB whereby the stabler the negative charge, the slower the elimination reaction. When dealing with the case of the elimination through the neutral form we observe that the reaction rate increases together with the capacity of stabilization of the positive charge on the nitrogen atom adjacent to the imino group. For the reaction through the dianion we used a maximum value of k(3) = 10(10) s(-)(1) to estimate the value of p for the formation of the dianion of the N-nitrosoguanidine, obtaining values of p < 24.

Nitroso group transfer from substituted N-methyl-N-nitrosobenzenesulfonamides to amines. Intrinsic and apparent reactivity

We have studied the nitroso group transfer from substituted N-methyl-N-nitrosobenzenesulfonamides to primary and secondary amines, observing that the rate of the reaction increases as a consequence of the presence of electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring of the nitrosating agents. The rate constants determined for the nitroso group transfer, ktr, give good Bronsted-type relationships between log ktr (rate constant for nitroso group transfer) and pKaR2NH2+ and pKaleaving group. The study of the nitrosation processes of secondary amines catalyzed by ONSCN and denitrosation catalyzed by SCN-, in combination with the formation equilibrium of ONSCN, has enabled us to calculate the value of the equilibrium constant for the loss of the NO+ group from a protonated N-nitrosamine (pKNOR2N+HNO), which can be defined by analogy with pKaR2NH2+. The value of pKNOX-NO for the loss of the NO+ group from an N-methyl-N-nitrosobenzenesulfonamide was obtained in a similar way. By using values of delta pKNO = pKNOR2N+HNO - pKNOX-NO, we were able to calculate the equilibrium constant for the nitroso group transfer and characterize the transition state. On the basis of Bronsted-type correlations, we have obtained values of beta nuclnorm and alpha lgnorm approximately equal to 0.55, showing a perfectly balanced transition state. In terms of the Marcus theory, the calculation of the intrinsic barriers for the nitroso group transfer reaction shows that the presence of electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring of the N-methyl-N-nitrosobenzenesulfonamides does not cause these barriers to vary.

Nitrosation of Amines in Nonaqueous Solvents. 3. Direct Observation of the Intermediate in Cyclohexane

The reactions of N-methylaniline (MeAn) with 2,2-dichloroethylnitrite (DCEN) and 2,2,2-trichloroethylnitrite (TCEN) in cyclohexane, and N-methylmethoxyamine (MMA) with TCEN in the same solvent, all gave the expected N-nitrosamines. Spectrophotometric monitoring of the MeAn/DCEN and MMA/TCEN reactions showed accumulation of the reaction intermediate. These are the first nitrosations of amines by alkyl nitrites in which observation of the intermediate has been possible; this is attributed to the low basicity of these amines (a) having effectively eliminated the possibility of the intermediate decomposing by base catalysis and (b) having decreased the rate of spontaneous decomposition of the intermediate more than the rate of its formation. Because of the scant capacity of cyclohexane to stabilize charge, it is assumed that both the formation and decomposition of the intermediate occur via concerted mechanisms with four-center transition states: formation through nucleophilic attack by the amine on the nitroso group accompanied by transfer of the amine proton to this group, decomposition through simultaneous cleavage of the N-O bond, and protonation of the alkoxide leaving group.