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II. Reaction Mechanism

  • Page ID
    24078

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    The mechanism proposed in Scheme 1 for reaction of an N-hydroxy­pyridine-2-thione ester is supported by a number of experimental obser­va­tions. The carbon-centered radical R· is detect­able by ESR spectroscopy,9 and flash photolysis experiments identify the 2-pyrid­yl­thiyl radical (PyS·) as one of the transients formed by ester photolysis.10,11 Also, the radical-chain nature of the reaction is attested to by quantum yields that range between 6 to 35, depending upon the reaction conditions.12

    There are several characteristics of reactions of N-hydroxypyridine-2-thione esters that have “come to light” as a result of mechanistic studies. One of these is that addition of R· to the carbon–sulfur double bond is reversible (Scheme 1).13 Another is that the 2-pyridylthiyl radical, produced by pho­tolysis in the first initiation step (Scheme 1), can add to a molecule of the starting ester in the second initiation step to provide another pathway for acyloxy radical formation.14

    Several factors contribute to the driving force for the rate-determining step in the reaction shown in Scheme 1. One of these is conversion of a non­aro­matic starting material into an aromatic product.15,16 Another is that a weak N–O bond (BDE = 43 kcal mole-1)17 in the substrate is being replaced with a stronger N–C bond (BDE \(\cong\) 76 kcal mole-1 for the sec­ond bond between carbon and nitrogen atoms)18 in the product.


    This page titled II. Reaction Mechanism is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Roger W. Binkley and Edith R. Binkley.