Isotope Effects in the Reaction of Benzo[h]quinoline N-Oxides with Methylsulfinyl Carbanion Examined by ab Initio Molecular Orbital Methods

Abstract

The reactions of benzo[h]quinoline N-oxide with methylsulfinyl carbanion and deuterated methylsulfinyl carbanion, respectively, were studied theoretically. Differences in yield between these reactions were explained using ab initio molecular orbital methods by considering the zero-point energy correction and the barrier penetration effect. In these reactions, two transition states affected the total reaction rate. The hydrogen- or deuterium-transfer step played a significant role, accounting for the difference in reaction rates.