The mechanism of the Pinacol-Pinacone rearragement. VI. Low temperature kinetics

Abstract

The low temperature rearrangement of pinacol to pinacone appears to be second order with respect to the hydrogen ion concentration. The activation energy is, however, similar to that of the high temperature reaction. This is interpreted as indicating that in the low temperature reaction the synartetic step is formed by a two stage process, through a stable intermediate, and each stage requires the participation of a hydrogen ion.