TY - JOUR
T1 - Exocyclic Cleavage in the Alkaline Hydrolysis of Methyl Ethylene Phosphate
T2 - Pseudorotation of a Pentavalent Intermediate or Reaction via a Hexavalent Intermediate?
AU - Kluger, Ronald
AU - Thatcher, Gregory R.J.
PY - 1986
Y1 - 1986
N2 - The observation of increasing exocyclic cleavage of methyl ethylene phosphate in alkaline solution was the first evidence for hydrolysis of a phosphate ester by reaction with 2 equiv of hydroxide. Kinetically equivalent mechanisms provide a role for a second hydroxide after the first hydroxide adds to form a pentavalent intermediate. These are (1) proton abstraction, pseudorotation, and exocyclic cleavage and (2) addition to form a hexavalent phosphorus intermediate followed by exocyclic cleavage. The mechanisms can be distinguished by patterns of isotope incorporation from solvent into the product of exocyclic cleavage. The hydrolysis of methyl ethylene phosphate was carried out in D20 containing D2180, and the pattern of isotopically shifted phosphorus NMR peaks of ethylene phosphate (and its hydrolysis product hydroxyethyl phosphate) rules out the involvement of hexavalent phosphorus intermediates. The formation of ethylene phosphate via anionic pentavalent intermediates contradicts predictions of a stereoelectronic theory that places great energetic advantage in cleaving the endocyclic ester bond.
AB - The observation of increasing exocyclic cleavage of methyl ethylene phosphate in alkaline solution was the first evidence for hydrolysis of a phosphate ester by reaction with 2 equiv of hydroxide. Kinetically equivalent mechanisms provide a role for a second hydroxide after the first hydroxide adds to form a pentavalent intermediate. These are (1) proton abstraction, pseudorotation, and exocyclic cleavage and (2) addition to form a hexavalent phosphorus intermediate followed by exocyclic cleavage. The mechanisms can be distinguished by patterns of isotope incorporation from solvent into the product of exocyclic cleavage. The hydrolysis of methyl ethylene phosphate was carried out in D20 containing D2180, and the pattern of isotopically shifted phosphorus NMR peaks of ethylene phosphate (and its hydrolysis product hydroxyethyl phosphate) rules out the involvement of hexavalent phosphorus intermediates. The formation of ethylene phosphate via anionic pentavalent intermediates contradicts predictions of a stereoelectronic theory that places great energetic advantage in cleaving the endocyclic ester bond.
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U2 - 10.1021/jo00352a014
DO - 10.1021/jo00352a014
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0344582326
SN - 0022-3263
VL - 51
SP - 207
EP - 212
JO - Journal of Organic Chemistry
JF - Journal of Organic Chemistry
IS - 2
ER -