Dual Substituent Effects on Pyridinolysis of Bis(aryl) Chlorothiophosphates in Acetonitrile

The nucleophilic substitution reactions of bis(Y-aryl) chlorothiophosphates (1) with X-pyridines are investigated kinetically in acetonitrile at $35.0^{\circ}C$. The free energy relationships with both X and Y are biphasic concave upwards with a break point at X = 3-Ph and Y = H, respectively. The sign of cross-interaction constants (CICs; ${\rho}_{XY}$) is positive with all X and Y. Proposed mechanism is a stepwise process with a rate-limiting leaving group departure from the intermediate with all X and Y. The kinetic results of 1 are compared with those of Y-aryl phenyl chlorothiophosphates (2). In the case of Y = electron-withdrawing groups, the cross-interaction between Y and Y, due to additional substituent Y, is significant enough to change the sign of ${\rho}_{XY}$ from negative with 2 to positive with 1, indicative of the change of mechanism from a rate-limiting bond formation to bond breaking.