Reaction between tetraneopentylzirconium and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol. A homogeneous analog of a metal complex-surface proton transfer reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00034a067

The reaction between tetraneopentylzirconium ([Bu^tCH₂] 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 k_H/ k_D = 4.1 (±0.54), interpreted in terms of reversible coordination of BHT-OH to the Zr followed by rate determining proton transfer.