Kinetics and Mechanism of the Addition of Benzylamines to Benzylidene Meldrum's Acids in Acetonitrile

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Addition of Benzylamines to Benzylidene Meldrum's Acids in Acetonitrile

Nucleophilic addition reactions of benzylamines $(XC_6H_4CH_2NH_2)$ to benzylidene Meldrum's acids (BMA; $YC_6H_4CH=C(COO)_2C(CH_3)_2$) have been investigated in acetonitrile at 20.0 ℃. The rates of addition are greatly enhanced due to the abnormally high acidity of Meldrum's acid. The magnitudes of the Hammett $({\rho}_X\;and\;{\rho}_Y)$ and Bronsted $({\rho}_X$)$ coefficients are rather small suggesting an early transition state. The sign and magnitude of the cross-interaction constant, ${\rho}_{XY}$ (= -0.33), and kinetic isotope effects $(k_H/k_D\;{\stackrel}{~}{=}\;1.5-1.7)$ involving deuterated benzylamine nucleophilies $(XC_6H_4CH_2ND_2)$ are indicative of hydrogen-bonded cyclic transition state. The activation parameters, ${\Delta}H^{\neq}\;{\stackrel}{~}{=}\;4\;kcal\;mol^{-1}\;and\;{\Delta}S^{\neq}\;{\stackrel}{~}{=}\;-37\;e.u.$, are also in line with the proposed mechanism.