Alkaline Hydrolysis of Y-Substituted Phenyl Phenyl Thionocarbonates: Effect of Changing Electrophilic Center from C=O to C=S on Reactivity and Mechanism

Second-order rate constants ($k_{OH^-}$) have been measured spectrophotometrically for reactions of Y-substituted phenyl phenyl thionocarbonates (4a-i) with $OH^-$ in 80 mol % $H_2O$/20 mol % DMSO at $25.0{\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. The $k_{OH^-}$ values for the reactions of 4a-i have been compared with those reported previously for the corresponding reactions of Y-substituted phenyl phenyl carbonates (3a-i) to investigate the effect of changing the electrophilic center from C=O to C=S on reactivity and mechanism. Thionocarbonates 4a-i are less reactive than the corresponding carbonates 3a-i although 4a-i are expected to be more reactive than 3a-i. The Bronsted-type plot for reactions of 4a-i is linear with $\beta_{lg}$ = -0.33, a typical $\beta_{lg}$ value for reactions reported to proceed through a stepwise mechanism with formation of an intermediate being the rate-determining step (RDS). Furthermore, the Hammett plot correlated with $\sigma^o$ constants results in much better linearity than that correlated with $\sigma^-$ constants, indicating that expulsion of the leaving group is not advanced in the RDS. Thus, alkaline hydrolysis of 4a-i has been concluded to proceed through a stepwise mechanism with formation of an intermediate being RDS, which is in contrast to the forced concerted mechanism reported for the corresponding reactions of 3a-i. Enhanced stability of the intermediate upon modification of the electrophilic center from C=O to C=S has been concluded to be responsible for the contrasting mechanisms.