Model calculations of isotope effects. IX. Origin of large hydrogen and carbon isotope effects in the deprotonation of 2-nitropropane by pyridine bases

Abstract

The abnormally large primary hydrogen and carbon kinetic isotope effects found in the deprotonation of 2-nitropropane by hindered pyridine bases are investigated by means of model calculations. Transition-state models have been varied between tight and loose extremes, and between carbanion-like and nitronate-like structures. The only models that reproduce the experimental findings are those in which the sum of the bond orders to the transferring proton is less than unity (loose transition states) and which are subject to tunnelling corrections.