Dual Substituent Effects on Anilinolysis of Bis(aryl) Chlorothiophosphates

The reactions of bis(Y-aryl) chlorothiophosphates (1) with substituted anilines and deuterated anilines are investigated kinetically in acetonitrile at $55.0^{\circ}C$. The Hammett plots for substituent Y variations in the substrates show biphasic concave upwards with a break point at Y = H. The cross-interaction constants (${\rho}_{XY}$) are positive for both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing Y substituents. The kinetic results of 1 are compared with those of Y-aryl phenyl chlorothiophosphates (2). The cross-interaction between Y and Y, due to additional substituent Y, is significant enough to result in the change of the sign of ${\rho}_{XY}$ from negative with 2 to positive with 1. The effect of the cross-interaction between Y and Y on the rate changes from negative role with electron-donating Y substituents to positive role with electron-withdrawing Y substituents, resulting in biphasic concave upward free energy correlation with Y. A stepwise mechanism with a rate-limiting leaving group departure from the intermediate involving a predominant frontside attack hydrogen bonded, four-center-type transition state is proposed based on the positive sign of ${\rho}_{XY}$ and primary normal deuterium kinetic isotope effects.