Dynamic NMR studies of base-catalyzed intramolecular single vs. intermolecular double proton transfer of 1,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)triazene

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the mechanisms of degenerate base-catalyzed intra- and intermolecular proton transfer using dynamic liquid state NMR. For this purpose, the model compound 1,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)[1,3- 15N 2]triazene ( 1) was studied with and without the presence of dimethylamine ( 2), trimethylamine ( 3) and water, using tetrahydrofuran- d 8 and methylethylether- d 8 as solvents, down to 130 K. Compound 1 represents an analog of carboxylic acids and of diarylamidines forming cyclic dimers in which a fast double proton transfer takes place. By contrast, the structure of 1 was chosen in such a way that this double proton transfer is suppressed, thus revealing the base catalyzed transfer by dynamic 1H and 19F NMR. Surprisingly, both 2 and 3 can pick up the mobile proton of 1 at one nitrogen atom and carry it to the other nitrogen atom of 1, resulting in an intramolecular transfer process catalyzed each time by a different base molecule. Even more surprising is that the intramolecular transfer catalyzed by 2 is faster than the superimposed intermolecular double proton transfer. In the absence of added bases, a 1 is subject to a slow proton exchange with 2-amino-5,4′-difluoro-diphenyl-diazene ( 4) which is formed in small quantities from 1 in the presence of acid impurities. This process can be minimized by a proper sample preparation technique. The kinetic H/D isotope effects are small, especially in the catalysis by 2, indicating a major heavy atom rearrangement and absence of tunneling. Semi-empirical PM3 and ab initio DFT calculations indicate a reaction pathway via a hydrogen bond switch of the protonated amine representing the transition state. The Arrhenius curves of all processes exhibit strong convex curvatures. This phenomenon is explained in terms of the hydrogen bond association of 1 with the added bases, preceding the proton transfer. At low temperatures, all catalysts are in a hydrogen bonded reactive complex with 1, and the rate constants observed equal to those of the reacting complex. However, at high temperatures, dissociation of the complex occurs, and the temperature dependence of the observed rate constants is affected also by the enthalpy of the hydrogen bond association. Finally, implications of this study for the mechanisms of enzyme proton transfers are discussed.