In solution, are the hydrogen bonds in monoprotonated N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,8-naphthalenediamines single- or double-well? To answer this question, isotopic perturbation of equilibrium is applied to a mixture of -d(0), -d(3), -d(6), -d(9), and -d(12) isotopologs. The N-methyls of the 2,7-dimethoxy analogue show intrinsic isotope shifts from the geminal CD(3) and from only one distant CD(3), an unusual stereochemical effect transmitted across the hydrogen bond. The (13)C NMR splittings and intensities at the various ring carbons of both ions are consistent with perturbation isotope shifts, intrinsic shifts, or a combination of both. The perturbation shifts mean that the protons reside in a double-minimum potential and that each ion is a pair of rapidly interconverting tautomers. The significance of this result for the role of low-barrier hydrogen bonds in enzyme-catalyzed reactions is discussed.

Secondary beta-deuterium isotope effects on amine basicities are measured using a remarkably precise NMR titration method. Deuteration is found to increase the basicity of methylamine, dimethylamine, benzylamine, N,N-dimethylaniline, 2-methyl-2-azanorbornane, and pyrrolizidine. The increase in dimethylamine arises entirely from enthalpy, contrary to a previous report. The method permits a determination of intramolecular isotope effects in 1-benzyl-4-methylpiperidine and 2-benzyl-2-azanorbornane. It is found that deuteration has a larger isotope effect when either antiperiplanar or synperiplanar to a lone pair, but the synperiplanar effect is smaller, as confirmed by computations. The isotope effect is attributed to a lowered zero-point energy of a C-H bond adjacent to an amine nitrogen, arising from delocalization of either a syn or an anti lone pair, and with no detectable angle-independent inductive effect.

Rate constants for acid-and base-catalyzed NH exchange of long-chain amides have been measured in cationic and anionic micelles and compared with NH exchange of model amides in aqueous solution. The data show that the rates can be strongly influenced by the electrostatic environment. Anionic micelles, where k OH decreases by a factor of about 2500 and where k H increases by a factor of about 100, show the largest effects. The effects of cationic micelles are smaller: a 30-fold decrease in k H (for ureas, or 6-fold for ordinary amides) and essentially no change in k OH , which was unexpected. Other effects are negligible (less than a factor of about 2): counterion, nonionic surfactant, headgroup, chain length, etc. The data are discussed in terms of electrostatic effects, steric retardation, competition of counterions for the micellar surface, the Brønsted formulation of medium effects, charge exposure, and the nature of the transition state.

Secondary beta deuterium isotope effects on acidity constants of ammonium ions are measured using a remarkably precise NMR titration method. Deuteration is found to increase the basicity of methylamine, dimethylamine, benzylamine, and N,N-dimethylaniline. The effect is attributed to a lowered zero-point energy of a CH bond adjacent to an amine nitrogen. The method permits a determination of the stereochemical dependence of the isotope effect in a locked piperidine, and it is found that deuteration is more effective when antiperiplanar to a lone pair. The values are consistent with a cos(2) dependence on dihedral angle, with no detectable angle-independent inductive effect.

The photosensitized oxidation of vitamin B6, pyridoxine, is investigated by product and kinetic analysis. Singlet oxygen quenching rates, measured by time-resolved laser flash generation of singlet oxygen followed by monitoring singlet oxygen phosphorescence decay, confirm previous observations that pyridoxine is a moderate quencher. The quenching rate for 3-methoxypyridine is 100 times slower than that for 3-hydroxypyridine, indicating the hydroxy moiety is required for efficient quenching. The chemical quenching rate constant, kr, was estimated by comparison with a known singlet oxygen reaction. Results indicate that the chemical quenching rate of pyridoxine dominates the total quenching. The major reaction product in methanol was isolated and characterized by NMR and MS. The data are consistent with a solvent adduct of the substituted 2,5-pyridinedione. At low temperature, two semistable intermediates were characterized by NMR. The data are consistent with a hydroperoxide and endoperoxide. These intermediates suggest initial attack of singlet oxygen para to the hydroxy group followed by either proton transfer to form the hydroperoxide or addition of the peroxide to the imine to form the endoperoxide. In the presence of protic solvents, the solvent adducts to the imine and elimination of water yield the observed 2,5-pyridinedione product.