Reaction between tetraneopentylzirconium and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol. A homogeneous analog of a metal complex-surface proton transfer reaction
The reaction between tetraneopentylzirconium ([ButCH2] 4Zr; neo4Zr) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT-OH) was studied by NMR and proceeds to give BHT-O-Zr(neo)3 plus neopentane. Second order rate constants were measured for reactions using BHT-OH and BHT-OD, and it was found that kH/ kD = 4.1 (±0.54), interpreted in terms of reversible coordination of BHT-OH to the Zr followed by rate determining proton transfer.
Miller, John B.,Schwartz, Jeffrey,Carroll, Kevin M.