Kinetic study on alkaline hydrolysis of Y-substituted phenyl X-substituted benzenesulfonates: Effects of changing nucleophile from azide to hydroxide ion on reactivity and transition-state structure

Second-order rate constants (math formula) for alkaline hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl X-substituted benzenesulfonates (1a–1f) and Y-substituted phenyl 4-nitrobezenesulfonates (2a–2g) have been measured spectrophotometrically. Comparison of math formula with the math formula values reported previously for the corresponding reactions with math formula has revealed that OH [BOND] is only 10³-fold more reactive than math formula, although the former is 11 pK _a units more basic than the latter. The Yukawa–Tsuno plot for the reactions of 1a–1f results in an excellent linear correlation with ρ_X = 2.09 and r = 0.41. The Brønsted-type plot for the reactions of 2a–2g is linear with β_lg = −0.51, which is typical for reactions reported to proceed through a concerted mechanism. The Yukawa–Tsuno plot for the reactions of 2a–2g exhibits excellent linearity with ρ_Y = 1.85 and r = 0.25, indicating that a partial negative charge develops on the O atom of the leaving group in the transition state. Thus, the alkaline hydrolysis of 1a–1f and 2a–2g has been concluded to proceed through a concerted mechanism. Comparison of the ρ_X and β_lg values for the reactions with math formula ions suggests that the reactions with hydroxide ion proceed through a tighter transition-state structure than those with azide ion