Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.131, No.5, 2023-2028, 2009
Efficient Intramolecular General-Acid Catalysis of the Reactions of alpha-Effect Nucleophiles and Ammonia Oxide with a Phosphate Triester
The S(N)2(P) reactions with alpha-effect nucleophiles of the cationic form 1 center dot H+ of phosphate triester diethyl 8-(N,N-dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl phosphate are catalyzed by the neighboring dimethylammonium group, with accelerations as high as 10(6). Hydroxylamine and its N-methyl and N,N-dimethyl derivatives, which react through oxygen, we presume by way of the zwitterionic ammonia oxide tautomers, are of special interest. The a-effect and the efficient general-acid catalysis in this system are mutually reinforcing. The a-effect is greater for the reactions of the triester than for the corresponding mono- and diesters and qualitatively different for hydroxylamines RR'NOH, where the likely role of the ammonia oxide tautomer NH3+-O- is evaluated by ab initio calculations. The initial phosphorus-containing product NH2OPO(OEt)(2) reacts further with hydroxylamine to generate diethyl phosphate and diimide, identified by its disproportionation to hydrazine and N-2 and its reducing potential.