Correlation analysis of reactivity in the addition of substituted benzylamines to β-nitrostyrene
The kinetics of addition of a number of ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted benzylamines to β-nitrostyrene (NS) in acetonitrile have been studied. The reaction is first order with respect to NS. The order with respect to the amine is higher than one. It has been shown that the reaction follows two mechanistic pathways, uncatalyzed and catalyzed by the amine. The Arrhenius activation energy for the catalyzed path is negative, indicating the presence of a pre-equilibrium (k1, k−1) leading to the formation of a zwitterion. The values of the rate constant, k1, for the nucleophilic attack have been determined for 28 benzylamines. The rate constant k1 was subjected to correlation analysis using Charton's LDR and LDRS equations. The polar regression coefficients are negative, indicating the formation of a cationic species in the transition state. The reaction is subject to steric hindrance by ortho substituents. Key words: nucleophilic addition, benzylamines, correlation analysis, kinetics, alkene.