Kinetics of acid-catalyzed hydration in aqueous solution of 1-methoxy- and 1-methylthio-2-phenylethyne and some related acetylenes
The rates of conversion of C6H5C≡COCH3 to C6H5CH2CO2CH3 were measured in dilute HClO4/H2O, DCIO4/D2O, and H3PO4–H2PO2−/H2O buffer solutions, and the rates of conversion of C6H5C≡CSCH3 to C6H5CH2COSCH3, C6H5C≡CH to C6H5COCH3, 2,4,6-(CH3)3C6H2C≡CH to 2,4,6-(CH3)3C6H2COCH3, and p-CH3OC6H4C≡CCH3 to p-CH3OC6H4COCH2CH3 were measured in concentrated HClO4/H2O solutions, all at 25 °C. The reaction of C6H5C≡COCH3 showed general acid catalysis and gave the isotope effect [Formula: see text], which indicates that it proceeds through rate-determining proton transfer from catalyst to substrate. The hydronium ion catalytic coefficient for this reaction is [Formula: see text], and those for the other four, in the order given above, are [Formula: see text], and 8.5 × 10−6 M−1 s−1. Relative reactivities based on these rate constants are discussed.