The specific rates of solvolysis of p-nitrobenzyl chloroformate are well correlated using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation, with a high sensitivity (l) to changes in solvent nucleophilicity (N(T)) and a moderate sensitivity (m) to changes in solvent ionizing power (Y(Cl)). The values are consistent with a rate-determining association within an association-dissociation pathway. The selectivity values (S) for the attack at the acyl carbon show a modest preference for ethanol over water and a relatively high preference for ethanol over 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). The solvolyses of benzyl chloroformate show similar characteristics in solvents of relatively high nucleophilicity and/or low ionizing power. In solvents with considerable fluoro alcohol content, an ionization mechanism, accompanied by loss of carbon dioxide, leads to benzyl chloride, benzyl alcohol, and benzyl alkyl ether. A new correlation now applies, with a much lower l value and somewhat higher m value. The S values for this pathway are close to unity, even in TFE-ethanol mixtures, consistent with the components of the binary solvent capturing a highly reactive carbocation.

Contrary to earlier suggestions of an S(N)1 pathway for solvolyses of N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl chloride (1), an extended Grunwald-Winstein equation treatment of the specific rates of solvolysis in 32 solvents shows an appreciable sensitivity towards changes in both solvent nucleophilicity and solvent ionizing power. The actual values are very similar to those obtained in earlier studies of the solvolyses of sulfonyl and phosphoryl chlorides, solvolyses which are believed to proceed by an S(N)2 pathway. The observation of similar selectivities in aqueous-alcohol solvents further supports this assignment. In a recent report, an addition-elimination (association-dissociation) pathway was proposed for solvolyses of 2-propanesulfonyl chloride (2). A severe multicollinearity problem has been removed by the addition of several specific rates of solvolysis in fluoroalcohol-containing solvents. The new analyses using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation lead to sensitivities similar to those for and the previously studied related compounds, and these solvolyses are also best described as following an S(N)2 pathway.

Additional specific rates of solvolysis have been determined for acetyl chloride and diphenylacetyl chloride. These are combined with literature values to carry out correlation analyses, using the extended Grunwald–Winstein equation with incorporation of literature values for solvent nucleophilicity (NT) and solvent ionizing power (YCl). Parallel analysis are carried out using literature values for the specific rates of solvolysis of trimethylacetyl chloride, chloroacetyl chloride, phenylacetyl chloride, and α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride (MTPAC). Chloroacetyl chloride and MTPAC react by an addition-elimination pathway, with the addition step rate-determining, over the full range of solvents. Acetyl chloride reacts over the full range of solvents by an ionization pathway, with considerable nucleophilic solvation. The other three substrates can solvolyze with the domination of either mechanism, depending on the properties of the solvent. Reports concerning the use of product selectivity values, kinetic solvent isotope effects, and computational studies as additional probes of the mechanism of solvolysis are discussed.Key words: Grunwald-Winstein equation, acyl chlorides, mechanism of solvolysis, solvent nucleophilicity.

The specific rates of solvolysis have been determined for chloromethyl ethyl ether (3) and chloromethyl octyl ether (4) at -10.0 °C and for chloromethyl methyl sulfide (5) at 25.0 °C in a variety of pure and binary solvents. These values were used for a correlation analysis treatment using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation incorporating literature values for solvent nucleophilicity (N T ) and solvent ionising power (Y Cl ). Appreciable values were found for the sensitivities towards changes in both N T and Y Cl values. Using a literature specific rate of hydrolysis at 25.0 °C for fluoromethyl methyl ether (2), the required value for chloromethyl methyl ether (1) was obtained from use of N T and Y Cl values and the sensitivities for 3 to changes in their values, to adjust an experimental specific rate value for 1 in 100% ethanol to the corresponding value in 100% water. In this way, an estimated k Cl /k F of 1.2 x 10 5 was obtained, essentially identical to values for the solvolyses of tert-butyl halides. A unimolecular mechanism for the solvolyses, with appreciable nucleophilic solvation of the developing carbocation, is proposed. Electronic supplementary information provides, for several solvents, specific rates of solvolysis for 3, 4, and 5 at additional temperatures and the calculated activation parameters.

The specific rates of solvolysis of chloromethyl phenyl sulfide [(phenylthio)methyl chloride] and its p-chloro-derivative have been determined at 0.0 °C in a wide range of hydroxylic solvents, including several containing a fluroalcohol. Treatment in terms of a two-term Grunwald-Winstein equation, incorporating terms based on solvent ionizing power (YCl) and solvent nucleophilicity (NT) suggest a mechanism similar to that for the solvolyses of tert-butyl chloride, involving in the rate-determining step a nucleophilic solvation of the incipient carbocation in an ionization process. A previous suggestion, that a third-term governed by the aromatic ring parameter (I) is required, is shown both for the new and for the previously studied related substrates to be an artifact, resulting from an appreciable degree of multicollinearity between I values and a linear combination of NT and YCl values.

[reaction: see text] Solvolyses of methyl and ethyl chloroglyoxylates proceed about 10(6) times faster than the identical solvolyses of the corresponding chloroformates. The correlation parameters obtained from application of the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation are consistent with an addition-elimination (association-dissociation) mechanism over the full range of solvents, with the addition step being rate determining.

The specific rates of solvolysis of trimethylsilylmethyl trifluoromethanesulfonate have been measured at 25.0 °C in ethanol, methanol, and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) and their mixtures with water. Determinations were also made in aqueous acetone and in TFE-ethanol mixtures. An extended (two-term) Grunwald-Winstein equation correlation gave sensitivities towards changes in solvent nucleophilicity and solvent ionising power as expected for an S N 2 pathway, consistent with a previous proposal. For four solvents specific rates were determined at three or four additional temperatures and appreciably negative entropies of activation were observed, consistent with the proposed mechanism. At -20 °C, the specific rate of methanolysis is almost identical to that for methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, suggesting a fortuitous balance between steric hindrance effects and a favourable electronic effect upon the introduction of the trimethylsilyl group.

The specific rates of solvolysis of α, p-dichloroanisole (chloromethyl p-chlorophenyl ether, 1) have been measured conductimetrically in a variety of hydroxylic solvents. In three typical solvents, at 25.0 °C, the rate is 20-45 times greater than for the corresponding sulfide. In a comparison with the solvolysis of a substrate with an alkyl group replacing the aryl group, chloromethyl ethyl ether (2), at -10.0 °C in four typical solvents, 1 reacted considerably more slowly than 2, by a little over four orders of magnitude. An extended Grunwald-Winstein equation treatment of the specific rates of solvolyses in 24 solvents at 25.0 °C leads to an l value of 0.68 ± 0.04 and an m value of 0.59 ± 0.03 (l/m = 1.15). Appreciable nucleophilic assistance in the progress to the transition state is indicated and either nucleophilic solvation to an ionisation process or a loose S N 2 transition state with extensive bond-breaking accompanied by a smaller degree of bond-making lead to an appropriate transition state.