Mechanistic variation in the reactions of substituted acetamides in aqueous sulfuric acid

The acid-catalyzed reactions of acetamide 1, N-tert-butylacetamide 2, and several p-substituted N-benzylacetamides (3 = H, 4 = CH3, 5 = OCH3, 6 = Cl, 7 = NO2) have been studied as a function of acidity and temperature over a wide range of aqueous sulfuric acid solutions (0–91%). Analysis of the reaction products and rate–acidity profiles revealed that four different mechanisms are operative over different acidity regions depending on the structure of the substrate. These are: two A-2 hydrolysis mechanisms with N-acyl fission of the substrate (with participation of one or several water molecules in the rate-determining step); A-1 hydrolysis with N-alkyl fission; and sulfonation, followed by hydrolysis. These conclusions are supported by three complementary and detailed kinetic treatments based on the hydration parameter, transition state activity coefficient, and excess acidity approaches. The acidity domains of each mechanism have been established for each substrate. The mechanistic conclusions are fully supported by the different values of ΔH‡ and ΔS‡ obtained in different regions of acidity.