Mechanism of reactions of unsaturated ethers and thioethers. VIII: Acid‐catalyzed addition of water to 1‐alkynyl ethers

Abstract

Additional evidence for the occurrence of a rate determining proton transfer in the hydration of I-alkynyl ethers is afforded by the value of the solvent deuterium isotope effect, kHao/kDao = 1.7.The addition of water to I-ethoxy-1-propyne was investigated in a series of alcohol-water mixtures. Application of the criterium of Grunwuld indicates that a solvent molecule is not bound covalently in the slow proton transfer step.