Multiple Pathways in the Solvolysis of 1-Adamantyl Fluoroformate

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00027a046

Reactions of 1-adamantyl fluoroformate in hydroxylic solvents have been studied.In solvents of high ionizing power and relatively low nucleophilicity, such as 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol-water mixtures, the reactions parallel those of 1-adamantyl chloroformate, and only solvolysis-decomposition reaction is observed.However, differing from the reactions of the corresponding chloroformate, in other solvents appreciable amounts pf attack at acyl carbon occur, more than 90percent in <*> 80percent aqueous ethanol.Entropies of activation for attack at acyl carbon are considerably more negative than for solvolysis-decomposition.For the solvolysis-decomposition, a Grunwald-Winstein m value of 0.70 is observed.The k_Cl/k_F ratios for solvolysis-decomposition are in the range of 10⁴-10⁵, suggesting appreciable C-X bond breaking in the transition state of the rate-determining step and arguing against rate-determining formation of a 1-Ad(1+)(OCOX)(1-) ion pair.Attack at acyl carbon is analyzed in terms of the two-term Grunwald-Winstein equation, and sensitivities toward changes in nucleophilicity and ionizing power are identical to those for solvolyses of n-octyl fluoroformate, which are believed to proceed via a tetrahedral intermediate.For each of the major pathways, selectivities toward the components of binary hydroxylic solvents are reported and discussed.