Micellar catalysis of organic reactions. Part 36. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions in hydroxy functionalized micelles with bulky head groups

Abstract

AbstractThe reaction of several nitro activated aromatic halides with hydroxide ions was studied in the presence of hydroxy functionalized micelles containing bulky head groups, e.g. C16H33N+R2CH2CH2OH Br−, where R = Me, Et, Bu. In a biphasic reaction, the aryl halide is first converted into an aryl mincellar ether which subsequently reacts with hydroxide ions to form the phenolic product. Despite the increased nucleophilicity of hydroxide ions as water is squeezed away from the micelle surface by the bulky head groups, no direct reaction of the aromatic substrate with hydroxide ion is detectable. In the second phase of reaction, the breakdown of the aryl micellar ether to form the phenolic product, the order of reactivity in the different micelles is dependent on the steric interactions between substituents ortho to the reaction centre and the head group of the micelle. For compounds having one substituent ortho to the reaction centre, the order of reactivity is Bu > Me > Et, whereas for 2‐chloro‐1,3‐dinitrobenzene, which has two substituents ortho to the reaction centre, the order is Me > Et > Bu.